My approach
I offer 50m of integrative talking therapy in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Integrative means that I will use elements of whichever approach I have that is most effective for you. Counselling need not be a long process to be effective but everyone needs to go at their own pace. Six to twelve weeks is usually the norm to see results in your life, but everyone is different. There are no quick fixes, however, I work in a very effective way as I combine exploring the issues in your life to see where their roots lie, with showing you the skills needed to deal with your particular thought processes in the here-and-now.
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During my MSc studies I worked in placement at the NHS Primary Care Mental Health Counselling Service and for the North Wales Women's Centre (NWWC) in Rhyl doing face-to-face work there. I trained with CRUSE doing bereavement and grief counselling. I still work for the NWWC as well as doing private counselling and writing and running online group courses for anxiety.
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About me
I graduated from Bangor University in 2022 with a Masters of Science in Counselling with a high first in Counselling Skills. You can see my Masters presentation 'Dancing your way out of Depression: Interventions for Adult Depression' on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4lBJPmjomQ&t=3s
Tango or hip hop, for example, can improve depression by up to 35%.
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As an integrative counsellor, I want to continually develop my knowledge and expertise to ensure I have the latest information on what works. This is some of what I have been doing:
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In 2021 for my Masters I explored depression and why dancing is effective for it, as shown in my presentation video 'Dancing your way out of Depression: Interventions for Adult Depression'.
In 2022, I explored understanding your past in terms of loss of safety, self-worth and your significance as a child or more recently. Negative experiences may cause harmful messages to yourself. I also attended a CAT course (Cognitive Analytical Therapy) that focused on relationship patterns. It is based on the idea that our early life experiences influence the way we relate to other people and how we treat ourselves.
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In 2023 I focused on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) because I have seen that it is not enough to understand your issues - you also need skills to use here-and-now. The World Health Organisation now recommends ACT for trauma, stress and anxiety and ACT can improve these by up to 86%. I have seen this improvement many times in my clients. The NHS board in N Wales uses ACT with addictions as it is so effective. If you want to read more you could look up this article in Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/therapy-types/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy.
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If you have any more questions about the way I work, please do get in touch. As always, I stress that these sessions are yours and you are free to discuss whatever you need to.
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Training/Publications
2022: MSc in Counselling, Bangor University
2022: RASASC North Wales Sexual Violence Awareness Training 8.11.22
2022: ACAT: Two Day Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy
2021: Counselling Training for Abuse at North Wales Women’s Centre, Rhyl
2022: NHS Learning Styles Training Workshop
2022: All day NHS Workshops on mindfulness, music therapy, yoga, self-care
2021: NHS Trauma Training
2021: All-day Trauma Training Workshop, North Wales Women’s Centre
2021: 6 week MINDFULNESS Course - Auctus Wellbeing Services, Llandudno
2021: 12 hour ‘How to Work Remotely’ Therapy Training course - Bangor University MSc
2021: 5 month training with CRUSE including ‘Bereavement Support Training: Trauma, Awareness and Self–Care Webinar’; ‘Working remotely on Zoom/telephone’; ‘Working with Suicide’
2021: ‘Practice beyond the Pandemic - Remote and in-person - considering a blended approach to delivering therapy’ – British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists
2020: Emotional Resilience Training Workshop by Mary Bannon
2019: Epilepsy Awareness Course, Ysgol Y Wern, Cardiff
2004-2018: NHS Music Therapist and for Ty Gobaith Hospice
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PUBLICATIONS:
Wimpory, Dawn & Gwilym, Elise (2019). Musical Interaction Therapy (MIT) for Children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC’s): Underlying Rationale, Clinical Practice and Research Evidence. In Dunn H., Coombes E., Maclean E., Mottram H., and Nugent J., (Eds.) for Music Therapy and Autism Across the Lifespan. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
