Dr ASUKA YAMASHINA
Chartered Counselling Psychologist, BA (Hons), MA, DCounsPsy
London
Individual psychotherapy
The session typically takes place once a week at a set time. The timeframe may be short-term or open-ended, depending on the nature of the issue.
The issues I am experienced in helping clients with include:
-
Depression including post-natal depression, feeling of emptiness, loneliness and powerlessness
-
Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), panic attacks and phobias
-
Relational and familial difficulties
-
Trauma
-
Sexual, physical and emotional abuse
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
-
Loss e.g. bereavement, redundancy, divorce, abortion, miscarriage, and infertility
-
Anger
-
Shame
-
Lack of self-confidence and assertiveness
-
Dealing with physical and psychiatric illness
-
Addictive behaviours
-
Eating disorders or issues with food
-
Body image
-
Sexuality and sexual relations
-
Cultural difference and multi-cultural identity
-
Bullying
-
Work-related stress
-
Existential or spiritual crisis, adjustment to a new way of being, spiritual development
-
Life transitions
-
End-of-life issues
I can also help those seeking therapy not because of any particular problem or crisis, but solely for the purpose of self-development, self-care, and self-discovery.
How I facilitate the therapeutic process
As you describe your concerns and let me know what is happening with you, I will try to clarify the issue further with you, and to find out whether and how any event and influence in your past has contributed to your particular vulnerability in the present. We will re-examine together your coping mechanisms that have become costly to your well-being. In addition, I will support you in developing resources for self-care and in integrating positive qualities and goals.
I also work with dreams and related archetypal figures, sometimes also using visualisation, artwork, poetry or movement for exploration and expression. Integrating such symbolic realms of experience into one's awareness can be very enriching and beneficial towards deepening one's self-understanding and healing.
I will also pay attention to how you relate to your body and physical sensations, as this often both reflects and influences your psychological experience and issues. I may use body-mind practices such as energy psychotherapy interventions, and mindfulness meditation, as appropriate, to aid a harmoniously embodied presence.
At any point of the therapy I will welcome your feedback and your sharing your experience of our working relationship.