A brief overview of theories I may use in our work
Our Autonomic Nervous System
The vagus nerve is integral not only to our physical wellbeing but also to our emotional and social health. As the longest cranial nerve in the human body, the vagus nerve extends from the brainstem to our vital organs. This vagus nerve is the primary component of the autonomic nervous system, which governs our body's unconscious and automatic functions.
In the last 30 years, with the tech advances in neuroscience, research has been conducted into our polyvagus nervous system which governs our nervous system responses. Polyvagal Theory explains our physiological response to safety and danger. It provides a framework for understanding the body's autonomic nervous system and its reaction to stress. With the Polyvagal Theory, our nervous system operates in one of four states: social engagement, people pleasing, fight-or-flight, or shutdown. These states are inherently linked to feelings of safety and danger. For the majority of people, we may not physically be in danger, but in that moment, our bodies will react as though it is. This can look like anxiety, panic attacks, dissociation, depression and anger. If this sounds like you, there is hope.
Having an unregulated nervous system can impact us is in the workplace. Communication or lack, of with colleagues, line managers and bosses can taint our working relationships and we may be seen as difficult to work with, or avoided socially.
At home, relationships may be strained. We may be accused of lacking empathy, or being unemotional. Connection building can feel near impossible, or it may feel safer to withdraw from social interactions. If you have ever felt nervous to engage with a group of people, unable or unwilling to talk, mouth dried up and heart racing, this is your bodies response to perceived danger. My role is to help you develop the skills to understand the why's and hows. And then to implement change This work is suitable for doing online.
Polyvagal theory exercises offer numerous benefits, including improved emotional regulation, stress reduction, increased resilience, and a stronger mind-body connection. These exercises contribute to a balanced mental state and a sense of calm in daily life through diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness, and gentle stretching movements. The Polyvagal Theory provides powerful insights into our physiological responses to stress and safety, offering a new way to understand and navigate our mind-body connection.
Person-centred Therapy
Client-centred therapy or person-centred therapy focuses on maximising your ability to find your solutions with the right amount of support from me. It is a humanistic approach that deals with how you perceive yourself consciously. The person-centred approach ultimately sees human beings as having an innate tendency to reach their full potential. But this ability has been blocked or distorted by specific life experiences.
A non-directive approach requires you to take control during our session actively. Person-centred therapy is rooted in the belief that the person has all the answers from within to thrive - as your therapist, I empower you to find the answers. You decide what to talk about, not the therapist - and it focuses as much on the present and the past. The goals of this practice include increasing self-awareness, improving your ability to use self-direction to make desired changes, increasing clarity, improving self-esteem and boosting self-confidence.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy looks at how your unconscious thoughts and perceptions developed throughout childhood and how this affects your behaviour and thoughts today. Psychodynamic therapy aims to create fundamental change in your emotional development by helping you understand and resolve your problems by increasing your awareness of your inner self and how this can influence your relationships.
As your therapist, I help you to gain insight into your past life and present-day issues by looking at certain factors such as emotions, thoughts, early-life experiences and beliefs. By recognising recurring patterns, I help you see how you avoid distress or develop defence mechanisms, allowing you to begin changing those patterns of behaviour. You'll be able to recognise repressed emotions and unconscious influences affecting you that you learn to acknowledge so you can put your emotional life into perspective and express your feelings in healthier ways.
I encourage you to speak freely about your emotions, desires, and fears – being open can help reveal vulnerable feelings that might have been pushed out of conscious awareness. Nothing is taboo.
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My Location
I am an online counsellor based in Epsom in Surrey. I am certified, regulated and insured to practice anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Epsom is close to South West London, Kingston upon Thames, Stoneleigh, New Malden, Merton, Sutton, Croydon, Esher, Guildford and Leatherhead.
Contact me
Feel free to email me if you have any questions about how counselling works or to arrange an initial appointment. You can also text me or leave a message on 07305 219 195.
© Sue Wall Therapy
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