J. D., (Newcastle)
I was studying BA Honours in Architecture for 7 months at the Newcastle University, England prior to my struggles. I had just turned 22 years old and at this time. I had moved to Newcastle from Paris where I had worked and lived as an au pair for 6 months prior to my university undergraduate degree commencing. My first time moving to Europe from my home in Seattle, USA. Having just turned 22 years old and at this time, as a female living in single student accommodation. Everything became a struggle, I became very stressed and anxious, as I had not seen my family for just over a year. I missed family thanksgiving and Christmas, now my birthday. We had many online face to face chats but, I always managed a brave face. I just could not think straight, broken thoughts and at times waves of dark thoughts of doom and gloom. I descended to a place unknown to me, that I never saw or felt it coming. I woke one afternoon; it was a maintenance man and another person (who turned out to be a fellow student. All I remember was feeling, tired tearful but I had no tears. My tongue felt swollen, and I was limp all over, as they picked me up from the floor of my room. Paramedics arrived and I was taken to hospital. I was seen at the ER (A&E) of Victoria Royal Infirmary, Newcastle. I was seen by various doctors and staff from Psychiatry.
I stayed there for almost 48 hours, during which time my parents had numerous consultations with medical staff by telephone and face to face online. It was arranged by my parents and staff to be transferred to a private Therapy Clinic in Milton Keynes, in Southern England. It was posh and very expensive, my parents wanted the best immediate care and treatment for me as I had attempted suicide, out with the NHS at that time. I arrived by private taxi hours later that evening. I was met by Gordon the Clinical Nurse Specialist, to whom I owe my life, well the saving of the rest of it.
From the first nervous moment in n the admission room going through the admission process until my discharge (2 months later) back to Newcastle where I stayed with my mother who had rented a property for 6 months to be with me. The standard of care and therapy I received was incredible. I learned what fully happened to me, where my emotions, thoughts led to my maladaptive behaviours and my attempt at suicide. I learned to accept and commit to therapy, which had essential DBT, some CBT to deal with my struggles that led to my depression and suicidal thoughts. Relaxation techniques, HRV to reduce and manage stress, I did some art that was new to me that helped me communicate my feelings and emotions. Thus, showed where I was at and helped me communicate as I verbally couldn’t. Gordon being a therapist and a registered Mental Health nurse really made the difference, the clinical experience I had access to me was incredible. On discharge from therapy, I was given the workbook I had been working through in therapy. It was also a follow-on aftercare to consolidate the coping strategies for change I had learned. It is also a go to resource for when I feel, I have struggles with anything. I’m now back on my course full time with the next cohort and I’m really enjoying it. I cannot thank and recommend Gordon as a therapist enough. Every session was just about me, accepting where I was and who I was. Then commuting to the focused therapy for my recovery. Could I have had the same experience elsewhere, maybe. Gordon’s approach was very humanistic, supportive, guiding and empowering.
Thank you always J. D
Joseph (Bristol)
Following a close call with a road traffic accident, I opted for therapy in relation to my court case. My drink driving accident, highlighted that my level of alcohol consumption and driving while under the influence that led to the accident, but it was far more than this. As a self-employed businessman, I was under a lot of stress and anxiety. I had 2 private detox programmes in the last 14 months, but I was still drinking to cope with my life. After successfully completing my therapy with Gordon. I now know why I was drinking and why my 2 previous stays at a private detox had not worked.
Gordon completed with me a formulation, as he felt a diagnosis was not beneficial going forward. A psychotherapeutic plan was made and turned into 4 months of multi session therapy, twice weekly then weekly therapy and an accompanying workbook. I was initially sceptical about talking therapy, but I was wrong to be and I’m glad I was wrong. My life is changed I’m back to the person I was before my struggles, mental health problems and addiction. I’m free from all these now and living my life I’ve always wanted and have my aftercare workbook to keep me on track.
Thank You
Joseph
Coping with the death of my father
Therapy from Kirsten at Clarity has had a very positive impact on my life. It's helped me in numerous ways, to accept and deal with the loss of my father. But most importantly there has been a real improvement in my relationship with my husband, family, and friends. I've much calmer, happier and spontaneous. I’m a more focused, mindful and compassionate version of myself and I'm enjoying both my personal and work life more, because of it
Lisa
Anxiety and Stress
I have suffered mentally and physically for almost two years because of my anxiety. I have tried counselling via my work, prescription medication from my GP, herbal medication etc. I have still fallen back in to old patterns of behaviour and could not face talking to someone in person. I found Clarity online Therapy (through a friend’s recommendation, having being treated by Gordon in the past through referral from a Private Addiction service) was what I really needed.
It took 4 sessions of ACT (Accept and Commitment Therapy) to really feel It start to work, and now after my 10th session, I can honestly say I feel like a completely different person. Gordon through ACT, literally to support and guide me to accept and take action, teaching me acceptance and mindfulness skills as ways of learning to perceive my unwanted anxiety-related responses fully and exactly for what they are (my thoughts as thoughts, physical sensations as physical sensations, images as images, feelings as feelings). I no longer lay awake at night worrying about things and when faced with difficult situations I am not turning inside out trying to deal with it. I can now manage stressful situations, instead of them managing me and if I’m honest, I don't fully understand how it all works, but I do know it does work!!
Sam
Stress and Sleep Hygiene
"I don't know what your therapy does with Helen but keep doing it. It’s working, so far she seems to be calmer and coping a lot better."
Mr S (Dad)
CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) for Overcoming Past Abuse Trauma
“Thanks to Gordon at Clarity, I was able to overcome many issues that I had been struggling to cope with for a very long time. Gordon allowed me to go back briefly through my past and understand everything that happened and how it made me feel about myself. Although therapy may seem daunting, especially with my self-criticism and feeling ashamed of myself. Gordon made me feel as comfortable as possible at every session, online was the only way I could have taken therapy, meaning I was able to talk to him with ease of being in my own room. Gordon at Clarity is amazing at what he does, and I would recommend them to anyone who may be struggling with something in their lives, no matter what that may be”
Ted
Rehabilitation Therapy- Getting back to Work
“Kirsten at Clarity has made me feel very comfortable, I've learned many coping skills to help me work through my problems. I feel like I'm speaking to someone who actually listens and cares. I liked the overall experience of online therapy. I’ve had person to person counselling before and talking about my thoughts and emotions online was every bit as good. Although my psychotherapy with Kirsten really, got me back on track this time. I learned to accept, learn focused solutions to all of my intrusive unhelpful thoughts and motivate me to get going.”
Iain
Expat Therapy
My sessions with Clarity came at a critical time in my life and I’m glad to say, they have been brilliant. Gordon and Kirsten were, warm, caring and non-judgemental which made my hard issues easier to accept and deal with head-on. Their bespoke online therapy sessions, which I now know, I really needed and appreciate. Their clinical observations allowed me to really stop and consider my unhelpful thoughts and behaviours in a way I hadn't before. I was left with nowhere to run or hide, which is exactly what you need from therapy. Gordon helped me navigate obstacles that were as he said was caused by my ‘Tricky Brain’ that was making me relive things over and over in a negative way. Kirsten helped me to stay focused on the present with Mindfulness techniques and skills. I'm a happier and content Expat now living in Spain, as a result of online therapy from the dynamic duo. - Jack (Vélez-Málaga) Reducing the impact of stress with HRV (Heart Rate Variability- Bio feedback) Vagus Nerve Stimulation and ‘Gut Health’ Enteric Nervous System and Self Soothing techniques. “Online therapy was just what the doctor ordered, I enjoyed every session and the bonus of my home comforts and no travelling, PS, Kirsten, the Workbook is great! etc.”
Andrew
DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) for BPD (borderline personality disorder)
My therapy from Clarity lasted for over a year, twice a week then weekly sessions. It has been the best decision I I’ve made in a long, long time! From my longer assessment session to disconnecting and ending my therapy with my aftercare workbook, the amazing helpful support and guiding influence, is incredible. I went through a part of my life. I was losing control of myself and very emotionally volatile. I was selfish, demanding, vain and hard to live with due to my many years living with BPD. A very supportive, nonjudgmental, and caring therapist. Gordon never spoke down to me, validated where I was and you know, Gordon really does want to help you, find the best you. Guidance and support with DBT techniques helped me heal and deal with my issues. I never knew from one session to the next what we were going to talk about, but I did leave every session understanding me a bit better and learned to cope, but after my therapy finished, I now enjoy my life more and I’m much happier and content within myself. My BPD is still there but I control it!
Debs
