John Foley
John Foley
Psychotherapy and Counselling
Psychotherapy and Counselling
I am a psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor. I offer psychotherapy within the psychoanalytic tradition. I trained at WPF Therapy in London, one of the UK's leading training institutes and provider of clinical services.
Many of the problems that trouble us in life are rooted in parts of our minds that are largely unconscious. Like the tip of an iceberg, we may be aware only of the difficulties that break the surface. Bigger issues are hard to attend to.
Therapy recognises this truth and provides a safe space to listen to such anxieties, stress, low mood, troubling behaviours, difficulties in relationships or other personal struggles. The therapy would be carefully focused on what you want to bring, whilst also seeking different ways of listening to what those concerns could mean, particularly in terms of future flourishing.
Alongside my psychotherapeutic work, I have longstanding experience in spiritual and pastoral care.
Psychotherapy can help unblock issues here too. It can also be helpful to explore things at a systemic level, that is, thinking about how problems in life can arise from family histories, places of origin, and other transpersonal concerns.
Psychotherapy can be for a fixed term, perhaps of 12 - 16 weeks, or it can be open-ended. Many people prefer the latter because it allows time for deeper issues to emerge. We would meet at the same time and place each week, a pattern that greatly helps this kind of exploration. On-line sessions are currently available.
After studying Philosophy and Theology Degrees in Canterbury I continued studying and worked for many years in Harare, Zimbabwe. There I worked amongst the Shona people in two high density suburbs (townships). In the UK I have been the Director of a Drop-In Centre for Social and Emotional Wellbeing in the North East of England, working alongside many voluntary sector organisations, including the mental health charity, Mind.
I have conducted retreats and seminars for over two decades and worked within Specialist Mental Health and Forensic Services within the NHS. I am a counsellor and psychotherapist working with individuals, couples and groups. I use a psychoanalytic frame for working.
I have also worked as an Organisational Consultant, developing teams, team-working, conflict resolution and staff support programmes in a variety of settings. I have extensive experience in pastoral education and end of life and hospice care.
I am an experienced group facilitator and have run various staff support and experiential groups.
You are welcome to telephone or e-mail me to request an appointment or to ask any questions.
Registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC), The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and The Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (FPC).
Further information at The Counselling Directory.
