GET TO KNOW ME

Hi, I’m Abi. Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. I know that seeking therapy and finding the right therapist for you can be daunting, so I hope that the following information will help you to consider whether you would like to work with me.

I'm an experienced psychotherapist and I'm passionate about offering individuals safety, warmth and empathy in order for you to be able to work through the difficulties and painful emotions you may be experiencing. You may feel stuck in life and unsure of how to move past the barriers you are facing, which may be difficult emotions, thoughts, behaviours or relationships. Psychotherapy can be really beneficial in working through these experiences.

Abigail Graves

MSc Integrative Psychotherapy

UKCP registered

MY PROFESSIONAL APPROACH

I’m a qualified Integrative Psychotherapist. This means I use a range of theories to support my practice, all of which promote better relationship with ourselves and others. My approach as an Integrative psychotherapist means I will support you to understand your present-day experiences within the context of your whole life, as our ways of 'being' are shaped and developed right from our very early experiences. This often means that the root of our difficulties is beyond our conscious awareness and clients can benefit from support to explore and understand why they might feel stuck in the way they do.

Another important element of my approach is that I am relational. This means that I am not a detached 'expert' in the relationship with the client, but rather I meet you as human to human and seek to provide a collaborative experience as we work through your difficulties together. In developing an attachment between therapist and client, often we can see relational difficulties play out in the room together, and this gives us a real or 'live' experience through which to work through things differently.

I predominately work in a long-term way, meaning that together with the client we have time to work through the layers of your experience and recognise that change takes time and cannot be forced or rushed. However, I also offer time limited work if that would be more suited to your needs, and I would be happy to discuss this with you.

TRAINING . QUALIFICATIONS . EXPERIENCE

I am a UKCP registered Integrative Psychotherapist. I trained to masters level at The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute, Nottingham, UK. As a registered professional I adhere to the UKCP Code of Ethics and have professional indemnity insurance.

I have worked as an Integrative psychotherapist for both charitable organisations and within private practice. I have also worked for the NHS in a group psychotherapy setting for individuals who have experienced complex trauma and have significant difficulties with emotional regulation and relational patterns.

As well as my integrative training, I have completed training in Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), and art psychotherapy, and draw on elements of these modalities within my work. I am committed to continuing to develop my knowledge and skills as a therapist and regularly attend training and workshops. As well as this, I have also been through long-term therapy myself, and understand the experience of being a client.

I am also a qualified Occupational Therapist and previous to my work as a psychotherapist have many years experience working in NHS mental health settings, including within forensic and rehabilitation settings.