raella abel

I qualified as a Social Worker over 34 years ago and completed my Masters in Clinical Social Work in 2007. I was originally trained in Psychodynamic therapy but over the years have deepened my practice through continuously learning my trade and at the same time, living life.

My work developed and now incorporates other modalities, such as the cognitive-behavioural model around addiction; mindfulness, hypnotherapy, emotionally focused therapy for couples and lots of body work training. Deeply transformative life events that posed enormous challenges both emotionally and health wise, have further expanded and informed the experience which I bring to my practice.

My work acknowledges how deeply trauma and all emotions can embed and manifest in the body, either in pain or through illness. This shows us that there is something there that needs attention, exploration, understanding and release, all of which I address in my work.

I help people look afresh at what is hurting them and I bring to bear a variety of practical and 'in -the-here-and-now' strategies to understand and combat these challenges.

I work with empathy and listen very acutely to what you have to say and what you are feeling, reflecting back to you what you are experiencing in a differently digested way. Often this alone is effective enough for people to 'hear' themselves think and feel themselves feel, in a way that brings insight and new awareness. Then practical measures are drawn on to implement that awareness into your life.

I believe that therapy is a partnership between client and therapist, or couple and therapist, and that together we can facilitate change and the breakthrough required to foster a new and healthier life.