Mental Health Blog
This blog is the newest development here at YTherapy.
If you have been affected by traumatic life experiences, and:
- You would like to find out more information about trauma recovery
- You are beginning or already on a journey to healing
- You are curious about therapy or currently engaging in therapy
Then this blog is for you!
My goal is to share my knowledge and experience as a Dramatherapist who specialises in trauma, and to motivate and inspire you to work towards your own recovery. With greater knowledge comes greater self-awareness and self-compassion.
Here are 10 things you will discover in this blog:
1. My Voice
Informal and personal – this is the approach I will take to writing my blog. I will be speaking from the “I” and addressing “You” as the reader. When words are not enough, I will also use images and videos.
I would like you to hear my voice without unnecessary formality. I would also like to share my unique perspective on trauma and recovery. I want to make my posts easy to understand, accessible and relevant for you because trauma can be hard to deal with. If you can hear my voice and you feel what I share is helpful to you, then I will have accomplished my mission.
It may be that you are searching for a therapist and are now reading this blog post. If you feel you can hear the therapist’s voice come through a little more clearly in a blog, then this can help give you a greater sense of their communication and therapeutic style.
2. My Experience
You can read my biography on the About Me page, however, I would like to share more about my experiences with you in this blog.
I will dedicate myself to writing posts where I can further share my experiences, insights and reflections with you. I think it’s important to explain a concept or how things work by drawing from my own experiences as a clinician.
As I have worked with many different client groups and in varying contexts, I can share a bit more in depth about how Dramatherapy has helped those affected by trauma and how this way of working can help you.
3. Real Life Stories and Golden Moments in Therapy
Stories are a powerful tool for learning.
People want to hear stories of change and recovery from those who have had similar experiences to them. If in that story you feel you can identify with the protagonist, then that story can fill you with hope.
Having worked in the field of addiction, trauma and abuse for many years, I have witnessed the power of peer support and the power of the service user voice. Hearing a client’s story or voice can empower you in your journey to recovery.
I’m going to share real life stories and ‘golden moments’ in therapy, and of course to do so without breaking any client confidentiality. Sometimes I learn a great deal from hearing clients re-tell stories told to them, from listening to my colleagues in supervision, and from having conversations with other therapists practicing in different fields. These experiences will feature in my blog in some shape or form adding another level of richness to help you in your recovery.
I often post quotes from clients on YTherapy’s Instagram account. To hear more of my clients’ insights from therapy, please follow: @ytherapyuk #learningfromthepatient
4. Useful Information about Trauma
I specialise in trauma.
More specifically, I work with adults who have experienced relational trauma and childhood trauma. Trauma that stems from relationships are often complex and historical, and even rooted in earlier experiences from childhood.
I have worked with highly traumatised clients in many types of institutions including psychiatric hospitals and prisons. I have a lot of experience working with people who have been hurt by others, people who hurt themselves (e.g. substance abuse, self-harm), and people who hurt other people.
However different they may be from one another, the one thing my clients continue to have in common with each other is that they have experienced some form of relational trauma. Usually something significant has happened or not happened (often repeatedly) in their relationships and connection with others.
People who have been deeply hurt by others are always looking for places to put their hurt – in themselves or in other people. My hope is to share with you my knowledge and experience so that you have a better understanding about trauma and how it can affect you and your relationships.
5. Useful Information about Dramatherapy
To many people, Dramatherapy is a mystery.
Dramatherapy may be a lesser known form of psychotherapy but it is equally effective in helping people with trauma-related issues, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).
My aim is to educate and to dispel any myths around dramatherapy. I also hope to share different examples and ‘golden moments’ to demonstrate how dramatherapy works and how it can help you.
There are a lot more dramatherapy services for children and young people, and not as many for adults. People may be unaware of the value and benefits of dramatherapy. I hope to educate and share how dramatherapy can be very beneficial especially if you have experienced any kind of relational trauma and childhood trauma.
After all, dramatherapy is an action-based therapy. Great change can happen through talking about your relationships, connections and communication with others; and even greater change can happen if you actively engage in these topics by working experientially, creatively and symbolically.
6. Creativity Development
If in my blog I can share with you something that will inspire new ways of thinking about and perceiving your traumatic experiences, then we are working with the ideas of possibility and potential for change.
Having worked in a creative background for all my life, I have experienced creativity’s power to teach, to create social change and to heal. If I come across anything relevant that I think could also become resources for you and your self-development, I will of course write about it in this blog.
7. Therapeutic Themes, Insights and Dilemmas
This is a big one and will become the juiciest of posts. When working with trauma, I have observed many common themes, insights and dilemmas in therapy.
I will have a lot to share. I feel particularly drawn to write about the therapeutic relationship, what is often questioned and challenged in therapy, and new discoveries and reflections that come from clients too.
I hope these posts will be helpful for those thinking about taking up therapy and for those already engaged in therapy. The main aim of therapy is to help you, but when it stirs up uncomfortable feelings or challenges you, it may help you to understand why you may be thinking or feeling a certain way in the therapeutic process or relationship with your therapist. This is especially important for those who have experienced relational trauma and are wanting to start or are currently engaged in long-term therapy.
8. Trauma-Informed Advice and Tips
There’s already a lot of helpful information out there on mental health and wellbeing. For example, if you’re experiencing problems with sleep, you can probably find many resources with long lists of what to do and what not to do.
If you have been affected by traumatic experiences, please keep an eye on my tips. I will be sharing some helpful advice and tips which may be useful to you on a day-to-day basis. If what I share helps broaden your understanding of trauma, hopefully the advice and tips offered will feel more relevant, meaningful and effective in helping you.
9. Resources and Recommendations
A blog is the ideal space for me to share resources and recommendations that I think could be useful to you. For example, I may share quotes, images, videos, articles, books, films, events, apps, etc.
If you have come across my blog and would like to recommend something that has helped you, I would like to hear about your experience as this may be helpful to others.
10. News, Events and Updates
Whenever I have a big update on training workshops, events and publications, I will also share this in the blog. I will also make these announcements on social media so feel free to connect with me for regular updates:
Get started with a free 20 minute phone consultation. Let’s chat.
If you have any requests for a blog post, please feel free to send your questions, comments or ideas to: jamie@ytherapy.com
Please note that this blog is meant to be educational and should not be a substitute for therapy.
If you would like to enquire about therapy, please contact me or book an appointment: https://ytherapy.com/book-an-appointment/