Having suffered the effects of stress and anxiety myself – an awareness of how mind impacts on the body, led me to further studies and here I am now.
Julia Desousa
A huge thank you for working with me over the past two weeks and the two sessions we have had. I can honestly say it has been transformational and has improved my sense of well being and calmness ten fold. I will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone seeking such help.
Testimonial from JB working two sessions online
Therapy helps challenge a person’s thinking style and also helps to shift perspective (so you can perhaps see things in a different way). I can work with you to help move you forward, identify meaningful goals that will assist in getting your life back on track. Some people get results in a single session and for others it may require a few more.
Providing personal tailored therapy to each individual, I recognise we are all unique, having our own differing experiences along our path in life. How we cope with these challenges can influence how well we perform – utilising our hidden strengths, resources and talents. For some people this may not be so easy and here is where therapy aims to assist you in reaching effective outcomes in as few sessions as is possible.
Havening Techniques explained...
Thank you so so much for your help. I feel a million times better. I feel calm and collected and my confidence is back! The havening as absolutely magic. I’ve never had any treatment like it. X
Julia is one of the kindest and compassionate people I have ever had the pleaseure to meet. She made me feel so comfortable and cared for in every session. After suffering a difficult childhood I had some memories that made me cry just thinking about them. She recommended the havening technique and I was shocked on how effective it was. Now if I think of them I feel nothing. I feel so much more grounded and ready to take on the world. Thank you Julia for all your help! Rebecca
Welcome. I am a qualified Psychotherapist, training with the Human Givens College completing all Parts 1, 2 and 3. The Human Givens modality of therapy understands that humans have ‘emotional needs’ that must be met in balanced ways in order for us to live free of emotional distress.
It is from this therapy modality that I work: it draws from the essence of a variety of tried and tested therapeutic methods – such as cognitive therapy, behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, solution focused approaches, motivational interviewing, reflective listening and hypnotherapy.
My prior studies in counselling and hypnotherapy have equipped me with the therapeutic tools to help people move forward in positive ways. Previous to my therapy studies, I worked as a qualified registered nurse (RN) for over 20 years and have an understanding of the powerful co-relation between a positive mind aiding a positive body.
My clinical nursing and therapeutic training has helped me recognise how anxiety, stress, depression, low self-confidence and low self-esteem can inhibit the development of our emotional health and well-being. It has also equipped me with therapeutic tools that can encourage growth and positive change.
I recognise the important role that physical health plays within our lives. But a vital part of how we direct our lifestyles is based on our beliefs, values and emotions, shaped by positive and negative past experiences.
I am passionate about this therapy with its powerful potential to facilitate long-lasting change and to ultimately transform lives. This therapy understands how emotions can impact on a physical level to manifest with real symptoms.
I welcome the opportunity to work with you – to reconnect to your highest potential.
Pre Covid I managed my weekly clinics in Cirencester, Cotswolds and Ashley Cross, Poole. Now all therapies are given on-line. I have worked both in private practice and for charity PTSD Resolution treating ex-combat veterans and their families for PTSD symptoms, plus Red Poppy counselling service.
I have full indemnity insurance and registration to practice with a continuous professional development portfolio of updates as an ongoing process. Ethical consideration and values for best practice govern the development of a truly unique, personalised treatment plan to aid your wellbeing.
Confidentiality and discretion strictly assured.
Please do contact me to find out how you too can get to live the life you truly desire and deserve – coping more effectively with both the expected and the unexpected.
Enquiries responded to swiftly and personally. I work hard to ensure brief client waiting times from referral through to assessment and treatment in clinic.
I look forward to speaking to you.
Kind regards,
HG Dip (P) – Human Givens Diploma Practitioner
Dip Hyp CS – Hypnotherapy and Counselling Skills Diploma Chrysalis
HTCP – Havening Techniques® Certified Practitioner
Dip SAC – Life Coaching and Counselling Diploma
HPTI – Kids and Teens Hypnosis Certified Practitioner
RN – Registered Nurse (Adult)
HSOH – Hypno Gastric Band Practitioner
AET – Award in Education and Training
RCN – Royal College of Nursing
GHR – General Hypnotherapy Council
PSA – Accreditation by the Professional Standards Authority
CNHC – Member of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
Feeling anxious is a normal human condition that helps us to respond to our surroundings in order to survive in the world. Stress is a normal human response to potential hazards in our everyday life and is a good motivator for us to get into action.
Anxiety in constant excess will compromise the immune system to the point where it can speed development of cancers, increase susceptibility to infections, bring on heart disease and accelerate onset of diabetes. It can lead to stomach ulcers and trigger symptoms of ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease). Even the brain is susceptible to the effects of long-sustained stress resulting in memory problems.
Symptoms of anxiety include: feeling ‘on edge’, restless, difficulty in concentrating, irritability, a sense of ‘dread’, ‘butterflies’ in your stomach. You may feel tiredness, dizziness, headaches, the list is not exhaustive. Therapy will help you gain control over your anxious thinking, challenging negative thoughts and connecting you with your own strengths. Equipping you with tools to lead your life and find your way to get your needs met in balance.
How often do you get angry? All of us have those moments of anger but they are usually short-lived and infrequent. For some people though, anger is a big problem through the course of their day. “I get angry all the time” is a common phrase for someone who finds anger is an everyday event. Anger is bubbling up from within at the slightest thing. This feeling makes it seem like everyone is conspiring against you to make you react like this. A constant state of anger is harmful to your health.
THERAPY can help you stop seeing red and get your life back on an even keel.
For many people the real reason for their anger may not be what it seems. A moment to consider the underlying causes and treat effectively, can produce positive outcomes to channel your energies positively to good use. You will learn new techniques to help prevent anger being triggered – you will be more relaxed and thus in control of your emotions and your life. Before you know it your life and the lives of those around you will be happier and red won’t be the only colour you see.
Whilst it is normal to feel sad on occasion, depression tends to occur over a prolonged period of time and is accompanied by intense sadness. Depression affects all parts of a person – their body, mind and feelings.
THERAPY helps by teaching some gentle breathing and relaxing techniques – plus solution focussed questioning to challenge your thinking style and help create a shift in perspective (ie the bigger picture). You will develop a sense of self, increased confidence and a brighter outlook on life.
Phobias are a common form of anxiety disorder which varies in severity to each person. A phobia is an irrational fear, with the sufferer feeling powerless to overcome and go into panic state. A chronic fear or phobia can bring much anxiety and completely wreak havoc within a sufferer’s life. Whether you suffer a fear of flying, heights, spiders, buttons or whatever – therapy can help you take control of your life.
It is normal to feel shocked and upset when something terrible happens to you. These feelings usually fade within a month of occurring and if they don’t, then you may be diagnosed with PTSD. People may suffer PTSD after having differing kinds of trauma and events within their lives. It may include death, diagnosis of illness/disease, military combat, disasters ie crash/flood victim, rape and can affect children as well as adults. Anxiety coming and going is only one symptom, others include recurring thoughts, memories, images, dreams or terrible flashbacks of the trauma, plus avoidance of issues associated, denial of feelings and suppression of emotion being common.
Therapy assists you to move on and lead a life that is free from the anxiety associated with the traumatic event you suffered. The aim is to de-sensitise the memory so it no longer causes you distress. You will still have the memory of the event, but not the associated trauma and anxiety. Successful treatment will allow you to function well in your daily life, without the previous distress you suffered.
Low self-esteem is common in today’s society and many struggle to find their sense of worth. Self esteem is defined as how a person views themselves. Question – Do you like yourself? Do you deserve happiness? If your answer is no, you probably have low self esteem. If you don’t bounce back from low levels of self-esteem and always have negative thinking patterns about yourself, then now is the time to do something about it. Those unhelpful feelings of hopelessness or having nothing to look forward to can be a thing of the past.
Confidence gives us the ability to engage with the world. When our confidence is low our sense of “I can” is limited – sometimes the idea of a business meeting, an evening with friends or even venturing out beyond the front door seems far from our capabilities.
Therapy naturally builds up inner confidence, since the sense of self-belief in our abilities influences how we think, feel, motivate ourselves and behave. Relaxation therapy assists this process and we thus become able to manage our own emotions and thoughts. Using the power of your own mind, clients rehearse situations where they want to feel more confident and through this experience of mental rehearsal in hypnosis, they develop a sense of mastery that influences performance in real life situations.
In all areas of life, business, sports, careers – the most successful people are often the most motivated. Not being motivated and having specific goals generally goes hand in hand with not getting anywhere in our lives. Having specific goals is a great target to aim for and is essentially the outcome of a suitably focussed mind.
This therapy has helped many people to overcome procrastination and to develop a strong sense of self-motivation and tools for their life. You will be able to redefine the way you think about your abilities and what you can achieve, working on a very deep unconscious level.
Public speaking can cause a natural level of anxiety in most of us, but some people can suffer such crippling and intense anxiety that it impacts disastrously on their professional life. An anticipation that something will go wrong, plus fear associated with looking foolish or being humiliated, or even being thought of as incompetent. You may have suffered missed opportunities, avoided job interviews, missed out on promotion or the chance to manage a special project. A student might avoid a certain class that involves standing up to do presentations or reading out loud.
The enormous anxiety can impact on your confidence and self-esteem.
This therapy will give you the belief in your ability and empower you with the courage and power of a lion to succeed ...when you stand on that podium to deliver with 100% total confidence.
Some therapies are fantastic for changing the way you THINK about things, this therapy works to change the way you FEEL about things, which in turn, allows the thoughts to be different and so change the way you see and experience those aspects of your life.
UTILISING the power of your own mind – our imagination is our very own live running stage within our heads and we can activate and sew seeds for powerful change by rehearsing the desired success we wish to accord in our life.
More importantly you develop a sense of control within your life. Learning to do things differently and activating curiosity enhanced neural processes.
Helping you to move forward with your life – dealing and even letting go of past events, assisting with the present and looking ahead to a more meaningful and joy-filled life.
A free 20 minute consultation by phone or Zoom will ascertain whether we can work together and can proceed to scheduling your online appointment - a payment link will be emailed to you which must be completed prior to each session please.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Hippocrates
Work with me
By prior arrangement only.
All enquiries responded to swifty and personally. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Treatment local, national and international to aid your emotional well-being matters.
This website is provided for information only. It is not intended to replace a consultation with an appropriately qualified practitioner. The contents of the site are not to be considered as medical advice, and if you have any doubts or concerns about your health you are urged to seek advice from your doctor or medically qualified physician in the first instance. Julia Desousa cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury arising from the use of this website or the content herein.
Please read these terms and conditions which apply to the provision of therapy and the use of this website. They are designed to protect your interests as a client. By making an appointment, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.
Cures – A well-motivated client is very likely to achieve realistic goals. However, it is unethical to guarantee a cure. The control of thoughts, beliefs, emotions and behaviours always reside within the client. I guarantee to apply my training, expertise and experience to your issues with the aim of achieving agreed goals in as reasonable time as possible.
Estimates of the number of sessions required to treat a condition given at the enquiry stage or during the first consultation, are given on the basis of the information presented at that time. Estimates are also made on the basis of treatment being given to previous patients with differing case histories. Hence each patient and the causes of their condition are unique. Estimates are only rough guidelines and are subject to change.
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A free 20 minute telephone or Zoom consultation will determine whether I can be of help. Therapy that is effective, safe, drug-free and without any harmful side-effects – no operation or wound, with long-lasting results.
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