Anthony Cave

My approach

Psychotherapy refers to the treatment provided by a psychologist or other trained mental health professional to help people manage problems in their personal or social lives. By talking with a compassionate and accepting person in a confidential setting you are able to gain a deeper understanding of your needs and difficulties, begin to solve problems, and make changes and achieve goals which will return you to mental health and well-being.

I believe relationships are the key to mental health. My preferred therapy approach is called relationally focused integrative psychotherapy. It is within safe, empathic and respectful relationships that healing occurs, and the therapeutic relationships I create with clients include these qualities.

One meaning of 'integrative' refers to the therapist's ability to bring together various therapy approaches so the therapist has more tools and a deeper understanding of a client's thinking, feeling and behaviours. I use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic psychotherapy as well as other approaches and therapy techniques. These may include attuned inquiry, self questionnaires, guided relaxation, and practising new behaviours between sessions.

Living our lives can be very challenging at times. Sometimes bad things happen to us. We are threatened or hurt - or maybe we lose someone or something very important to us. Sometimes we experience conflict in a significant relationship. Sometimes we just start feeling different for no apparent reason - like getting really depressed when everything else in our life appears fine. And sometimes it's a behaviour that has got out of control - like drinking too much or being addicted to the Internet.

It is at these times of psychological distress that we may develop various symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger issues and many others. This is what we commonly call 'mental illness' and like physical illness, you will benefit from professional treatment. Many people still avoid seeing a 'shrink' because of the worry that others will lable them as 'crazy'. But if you think about it, isn't it more crazy to not get the help you need to have a better, happier life?

I hope you consider working with me with the goal of making the most of what life has to offer you.