Individual and Couples Therapy in West London and Online
Healing for the head and the heart
Welcome to Dr Yaz Headley Therapy
Do you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope?
Does your relationship feel fractured or broken?
Do you find it difficult to control your emotions?
Is your anxiety or depression taking over your life?
Do you find it hard to face the world?
Are your feelings affecting your life, your relationships or your career?
My name is Dr Yaz Headley and I provide short or long term therapy for couples or individuals in West London and online. I have over 20 years’ experience, during which time I have helped thousands of clients with a range of issues they have been struggling with. I am a BABCP, UKCP registered therapist and Imago accredited therapist; using Imago Relationship Therapy and CBT to help couples and individuals understand their struggles and find ways to resolve them. I am also a professional associate in COSRT and am working towards accreditation.
We can work together in person in my private practice or online, whichever you feel most comfortable with. It takes courage to seek help to resolve a problem that we are struggling with in our lives. Therapy is often considered the last resort, but you should see it as a step towards a more positive future. It is a process through which you will be listened to and heard, a process that will provide you with the support to understand yourself and your struggles better so that you can work towards achieving your goals.
To book an initial consultation or ask any questions you might have about my individual and couples therapy in West London and online, feel free to get in touch.
Working with me
Life can be a challenge and sometimes, we need support to make sense of the emotions that we are feeling and to understand ourselves and our situation better. My role is to provide a safe, comfortable and non-judgemental space for you to explore your behaviours and emotions, and to guide you on your path to a brighter future.
Before we start working together, we will have a free initial telephone conversation or a chat on Zoom so I can find out more about you, your situation and the difficulties that you are facing. I take the time to explain the process of therapy, what it entails and how it works so you feel fully informed about what therapy is and how we will work together. I also like to find out if you have worked with a therapist before so I can tailor my approach to your unique situation.
This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about therapy and working with me, so that you feel informed, confident and comfortable should we decide to work together.
You may be having reservations about working with a therapist so this is your opportunity to glean as much information as you can from the call so that you are happy moving forward.
After our initial consultation, and should we decide to work together, we can then arrange our first session, when it will take place, and if you prefer to work in person or online. We can also arrange the payment beforehand, freeing up your mind to focus on the therapy session.
Contact me for more information about individual or couples therapy in West London or online.
How I Work
Individual and Couples Therapy
Individuals who are likely to benefit from my approach are those who desire an integrative approach to health or perhaps are curious about the mind, body, spirit connection. I hold the belief that healing takes place in the context of relationship both to ourselves and to others. And, that much of our healing is about “recovering”, “reconnecting” and “remembering” our innate worth as humans.
Relationships are central to our existence. So, when I work with individuals and couples regarding relationships, my focus is on how we can integrate and heal the relationship within the self and/or with the other person. In today’s world, couples are quick to break up when they have struggles or conflict in their relationship. It is completely normal for relationships to encounter difficulties from time to time, and my focus is on creatively working with the couple to find ways of overcoming these problems and moving forward together.
I work with issues such as anxiety regarding relationships and intimacy, sex, life changes, issues of abuse from the past, abandonment and commitment issues. I work to the BABCP, UKCP and COSRT code of ethics, and therefore I have regular consultative support.
Whether I work with individuals or couples, I integrate three main approaches, tailoring our sessions to your specific needs and goals.
CBT & Integrative Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that helps you manage and overcome challenges by modifying the way you think and act. The process of CBT involves breaking down larger problems into smaller, more manageable components, and subsequently working to adjust harmful thought patterns and behaviors. This method has proven particularly effective for conditions such as depression and anxiety.
One of the unique aspects of CBT is that it equips you with practical tools and strategies to change negative patterns. As your therapist, I will guide you in learning and applying these strategies, but it’s also crucial for you to take an active role in your healing process. To facilitate this, CBT often includes specific tasks for you to complete between sessions. These activities allow you to actively apply the skills you’ve learned, fostering continual progress and giving you a greater sense of control over your journey towards achieving your goals.
In Integrative Therapy, the exploration of these aspects is a journey into self-discovery. As your therapist, I am here to guide you on this journey, helping you to recognize, acknowledge, and make sense of these factors. Through this process, we can start to unravel the motivations behind your actions, understand the patterns that rule your life, and begin the process of change.
Additionally, Integrative Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's flexible, adapting to your unique needs and circumstances. Whether it's your past traumas, internal conflicts, or unresolved emotions, the therapy works to integrate these elements, creating a cohesive understanding of your life narrative.
By merging this with CBT, we'll address not just your present challenges but also their deep-seated roots. This combination ensures a more comprehensive treatment, bringing together the best of both therapies. You'll learn practical strategies to handle your current issues (from CBT) and gain deeper insights into your internal dynamics (from Integrative Therapy). Thus, our work together will not only help you navigate your current situation but also empower you with the knowledge and tools to handle future challenges.
Relationships
Our relationships shape our lives and influence and experiences. The underpinning principle of IRT is that our adult relationships are significantly influenced by our earliest interactions with our caregivers. These 'childhood wounds', as they're often referred to in IRT, echo in our relationships, causing friction and conflict. But instead of viewing these conflicts as insurmountable hurdles, IRT interprets them as unique opportunities for healing and self-discovery.
We are, according to IRT, unconsciously drawn to partners who, in some ways, mirror the characteristics of our caregivers. These partners have the uncanny ability to 'trigger' our deepest wounds, resulting in conflict. However, IRT offers a tool for managing such conflict – the Imago Dialogue. This unique communication technique promotes a deeper understanding and fosters empathy between partners, turning conflict into a healing process. It's through this dialogue that couples are able to heal each other's wounds and pave the way for emotional growth.
Furthermore, IRT promotes a significant shift in perspective from the individualistic 'me' to the collaborative 'we.' This perspective sees relationships as living entities that need constant nurturing and care. It advocates for shared commitment and mutual respect, the pillars of any healthy and thriving relationship.
But the essence of Imago Relationship Therapy goes beyond conflict management. It provides a roadmap for couples to evolve and grow together, turning their relationship into a wellspring of fulfillment and joy. It's about understanding and empathizing with each other's wounds, consciously nurturing the relationship, and choosing to value it every day.
The principles of IRT are not just beneficial for romantic relationships but can also help enhance the quality of all interpersonal relationships in our lives. By applying these principles, we can better understand and empathize with others, nurture healthier relationships, and consequently lead more fulfilling lives. The journey through IRT thus becomes not just a path to better relationships but also a journey towards self-discovery and personal growth.
Sexual Health
The mind and body are not separate entities functioning in isolation; instead, they are interconnected, each one significantly influencing the other. This becomes exceptionally clear when we address sexual difficulties, which typically emerge from a complex blend of mental and physical factors.
To effectively address these sexual issues, we need a holistic approach that treats both the psychological and physical aspects. This is where psychosexual therapy can play a transformative role. By integrating psychotherapy with aspects of sexual health, this therapeutic method creates a non-judgmental and open space for individuals and couples. Here, they can explore, understand, and address their sexual concerns without fear of prejudice or misunderstanding.
These sexual concerns can vary widely, requiring distinct interventions tailored to the individual or couple. Men might face problems such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, while women could grapple with issues like pain during intercourse, difficulty reaching orgasm, or even a lack of sexual desire. The roots of these problems often intertwine with relationship challenges, personal anxieties, stress, or a combination of these. Therefore, to achieve a thorough resolution, we often need to implement a blend of therapeutic and, where necessary, medical interventions.
The journey towards sexual healing is an involved process, requiring improved communication, healthier coping mechanisms, and fostering deeper levels of intimacy. This journey serves to better harmonize the connection between our mind and body, allowing us to better understand our sexual selves and to navigate towards a more satisfying and fulfilling sexual life.
Importantly, acknowledging and addressing sexual difficulties should not be seen as a failure or a sign of weakness. Rather, these are vital steps towards nurturing fulfilling and intimate sexual relationships that cater to both our physical and emotional needs. By engaging in this process of exploration and healing, we can unlock a deeper understanding of ourselves and our partners, leading to more enriching and satisfying connections.
“It is odd how it works. It is almost as though she sees something that was always there but I had not realised. It was an eye-opener.”
“Yaz helped me to recognise and see the patterns I had been repeating and how unhelpful they had become.”
“A very special lady who has helped me greatly. I have tried many counsellors and she walked with me like no one else could.”
My location
I offer individual and couples therapy in West London and online from my practice is based in Ealing for anyone in West London or the surrounding areas, such as: Acton, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale, Southall, Chiswick.
I have a calm, safe and comfortable space in my home for us to explore your issues. There is free parking right outside my practice, and it is easily accessed via public transport. You can access my practice via South Ealing tube station on the Piccadilly Line or Ealing Broadway on the District Line.
Alternatively, I offer online counselling for my clients if you are unable to travel to my practice or if you feel more comfortable this way. Some clients do not have the time to travel or find making travel arrangements more stressful so you can access therapy from the comfort of your own home, using Zoom.
Fees & availability
I am available mainly for couples in the evenings and for individuals during the day. For face-to-face or online therapy sessions, I also put aside time after each session to send out notes and files from our sessions.
Initial telephone or Zoom consultation – free
Individual therapy – 50 mins
Couples therapy – 80 mins
For your convenience, we can arrange to meet weekly, biweekly, every three weeks, or every 4 weeks.
Should you need to cancel a session, I need at least 72 hours’ notice to avoid a charge for the full session.
Please contact me for any further information about fees and availability
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
Email me for us to arrange a time and day to talk as I do not have voicemail. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquiries are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure email services.
© Yaz Headley
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