The approach I use

The main approach I use is Transactional Analysis (TA). The underpinning ethos of this approach is that ‘people are ok’. That means you, I and others have worth, value and dignity. Problems often arise when we do not believe ourselves and/ or others to be ‘OK’. We may have more negative or painful beliefs about ourselves and others that cause us to feel anxious, angry or low in mood. Throughout your life, you will have learnt different ways of reacting to stress and problems. In TA, we understand this by using the ego state model. The ego state model is a way of explaining why and how we have different thoughts, feelings and behaviours at different times or in different situations. Below is a description of the different ego states.

Parent ego state

If you are in a Parent ego state, you will think, feel and act in a manner that is a copy of one of your parents or a parent type figure from your childhood. This can be useful, for example, you may replay nurturing behaviours of a parent. Other times the copied thoughts, feelings and behaviours may be unhelpful, they may be more critical and destructive and can cause problems.

Adult ego state

If you are in an Adult ego state, you will use your full grown-up resources when you think, feel and act. Your response will be appropriate to the here and now situation.

Child ego state

If you are in a Child ego state, you will think, feel and act in ways you used to as a child. This may include feeling scared or angry or not knowing how to think or feel.

Life script and games

Life script is an unconscious life plan. A person’s life plan grows out of decisions made during the early years of their life. These decisions are an infant’s way of surviving a complex and confusing world. The decisions we make in childhood stay with us as we move into adulthood and can distort the way we perceive ourselves, others and world. TA theory states we play ‘games’ as a means of staying in our life script. A game is described as engaging in repetitive transactions (out of our awareness) which end up confirming our unhelpful beliefs. Do you ever find the same thing keeps happening? For example, do you ever think ‘Why does everyone let me down?’ ‘Why do I always get rejected?’ These are examples of the payoff when engaging in games, the confirmation of our script beliefs. I may teach you more about this during therapy but do not feel overwhelmed or worry you should know the theory. This approach helps me understand you at a deeper level and guides the treatment plan.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

I also use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions to help people work toward their goal and experience symptom relief. CBT can help people identify unhelpful thoughts and develop a more balanced perspective of themselves, others and the world. People also learn to identify behaviours they engage in that may keep the problem going. In therapy people can experiment with changing these behaviours, often resulting in positive changes to the way they see themselves and others, and the way they feel.

Fees

My fee is £50 per session for individual sessions and £65 per session for couple therapy.

I have a limited number of appointments available at a reduced rate for people on a lower income or who are struggling financially. Please contact me if you would like further details.

Amy Cooper

ST10, Staffordshire

07835 763 287

info@amycoopercounselling.co.uk