carys@carysmillertherapy.co.uk

There are times when life feels overwhelming. It can be difficult to see the path ahead.

Maybe you have experienced a sudden crisis, a bereavement or relationship break-up, or you are on the cusp of a life change, or a difficult choice. Perhaps painful experiences from your past are still affecting you in the here and now, and you want to find a way to understand, to heal or to change. It may be that you feel that something is just not quite right, and you want to untangle the threads to work out what you really want or need to feel more at one with yourself.

I am an experienced, BACP registered, integrative therapist. I welcome people from all walks of life and meet you with warmth and compassion to explore whatever has brought you to therapy. There is no judgement, just a safe space for us to connect with what might be going on under the surface.

Integrative Therapy with Carys Miller

I believe that therapy has the power to transform. Working in a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe to explore all aspects of yourself can lead you to a place of greater self-understanding and acceptance. It may empower you to recognise past patterns of behaviour that are no longer serving you well. Or it may be that having a space to explore difficult feelings helps you to gain perspective or to find a greater sense of acceptance. It can be difficult, in amongst all the pressures of life, to attend to yourself and your needs. The structure and commitment of weekly therapy sessions give a framework to making that space.

As an integrative counsellor, I don’t believe that one size fits all, and I draw on a variety of techniques from psychodynamic, relational, humanistic, transpersonal and attachment theories, adapting my approach to fit your individual needs. If you are struggling with issues that are rooted in your past, we may spend time exploring your early life and formative experiences. If you want to address a particular issue or problem, then we may work in a more focussed and specific way. Whatever you may bring, my approach is to nurture a compassionate and meaningful relationship as research shows that this is a key factor in the success of your therapy.

Areas of Particular Interest

Bereavement

I have worked as a counsellor in an East London Bereavement Service for several years.

I work with clients who have been bereaved through sudden and traumatic death, terminal illness, long-term neuro-degenerative diseases such as Huntingdon’s and MND, Alzheimer’s and dementia, with people bereaved by suicide, miscarriage, child loss and also with pre-bereavement.

Bereavement can trigger not only sadness and mourning, but also earlier unprocessed losses, issues around how we form relationships and our early attachments. Therapy can help to work through conflicting emotions and to understand how we are changed by our losses.

I hold Specialist Practitioner Certificates in Pregnancy and Baby Loss, Rainbow Parenting and Infertility from the Foundation for Infant Loss.

Parenting

The challenges of parenting are multitudinous, especially for those parenting neurodivergent children, children with SEND and those who are struggling with attending school (sometimes described as EBSA) due to unmet need and anxiety, parenting teens and coping with the stress and pressure of school, exams, social media and bullying. I have previously worked in a 6^th form counselling service supporting students, so I have experience of the challenges of the teenage years from both sides!

Negotiating Life Stages and Changes

As we move through life, we pass into different stages, and this can present challenges and anxiety. Career changes, health challenges, becoming a parent or a carer, marriage, divorce: moving through all the different stages of life and relationships can bring difficulties that may feel unexpected or intractable. Having a space to unravel the knots, perhaps to mourn and say goodbye to what we have lost, and to explore, perhaps to embrace, that which is still to come can help us to face the future with more clarity and balance.

Neurodiversity

I offer support to adults who are exploring the possibility of seeking diagnosis, those coping with late diagnosis or trying to process the unmet needs and trauma that they may have experienced prior to diagnosis, to unwind the frustrations of day-to-day life in a world that is not always ND-affirming, to understand and manage co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression, and to foster self-compassion.

Other Areas of work include:

About Me

I am an experienced integrative counsellor, registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. I hold a Professional Diploma in Integrative Counselling and a Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.

I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework, ensuring that I work ethically, safely and competently. I am committed to ongoing professional development, and am currently undertaking further accredited training in working with Internal Family Systems.

My first career was in Law, as a partner and Solicitor-Advocate in a highly regarded solicitors’ practice, where I specialised in criminal defence and mental health work.

I read English for my undergraduate degree at Cambridge, where I was also a Choral Scholar. I am a passionate believer in the transformational power and joy of music.

How It Works

I work face-to-face or online.

I offer both short and long term therapy. Short term is usually between 6-12 sessions and may be more suitable for specific issue work. For longer term work, regular reviews ensure that the work stays focussed and aligned to your hopes and aims.

Sessions are usually weekly, 50 minutes long, on the same day each week.

I offer a first session at £40.00, as an opportunity for us to meet and explore what brings you to therapy, to ask any questions you may have about the process, and to get a feel for whether I am the right fit for you. Thereafter sessions are charged at £70.00 per 50 minutes. I currently have availability on Tuesday afternoons.

Psychotherapy Qualifications & Training:

Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
Foundation for Infant Loss Certified Specialist in Pregnancy and Baby Loss, Infertility and Rainbow Parenting
Post Graduate Diploma in Law
BA (Cantab) English

I regularly undertake CPD training across a variety of themes, including Working with Neurodivergence, Suicidality and Self Harm, Healing Traumatic Memories, Boarding School Syndrome, Working with Creative Tools, Working with Young People.

Contact:

Show Carys's contacts:

carys@carysmillertherapy.co.uk

Rates:

I offer a first session at £40.00, as an opportunity for us to meet and explore what brings you to therapy, to ask any questions you may have about the process, and to get a feel for whether I am the right fit for you. Thereafter, sessions are charged at £70.00 per 50 minutes. I currently have availability on Tuesday afternoons.

Sessions:

Psychotherapy sessions at City Therapy Space:
Tuesday afternoon

Directions to City Therapy Space