Diana Brotherton - Profile

Hello, my name is Diana Brotherton and I’m an experienced Relationship Therapist working with individuals or couples. Among other types of mental health support, I offer DIT (Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy) programs for young adults who experience difficulties in forming or keeping nurturing relationships with others. I also offer Supervision for other Counsellors. I am an accredited member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Relationships have complex structures, much like ice crystals forming in snow, and they are fuelled by our (and Other’s) feelings, imagination, hopes. We could often find ourselves facing an impasse situation, when trying to navigate through our relationships, as we are always caught within a web of inter-relationships with others. For example, we could feel trapped in our personal journey by others’ hopes or aspirations. Or maybe we feel in ‘competition’ within our families or friendship groups and thus we are trying to fit in, according to prescribed rules or norms, but don’t quite succeed in getting a stable happiness in the long term. Or perhaps some internal factors, such as illnesses or psychological traumas, put pressure on relationships with our loved ones leading to emotional dysregulation. These processes could cause much upset and could lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

One of my personal interests is looking at how wellbeing affects the quality of relationships with others. For example, achieving emotional regulation through making small but meaningful changes in our lifestyles, leads to better personal wellbeing. This has a positive knock-on effect on our relationships with others.

My approach to therapy

I offer a safe, non-judgmental space where through lively conversation and using normal everyday language, you could allow your inner voice to be heard and to maybe re-discover your aspirations.

My aim is to help you to explore your relationship dilemmas through deeper reflection and insightfulness, so you (and your loved ones) could perhaps live more fulfilling lives.

My approach to therapy is engaging and proactive. I will support you by using a variety of tools, as appropriate, to help you to achieve your specific goals.

I work in an integrative way and my practice is also influenced by humanistic/existential thinking, psychoanalytic concepts and continental philosophy.

Ethical Standards

As an accredited member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) I adhere to their ethical guidelines and have ongoing supervision and CPD (Continual Professional Development). This ensures the service I provide to my clients the best possible.

I have many years of experience working with individuals or couples in my private practice both face to face or online.

In addition to private practice, I worked in the NHS since 2012, providing psychological treatments to people presenting with anxiety and depression, or with difficulties in relationships.

I also work with charities and other organizations delivering supervision or tailored programs to support the valuable work of their employees. An example is my work as supervisor with bereavement counsellors working at Cruse.

I am committed toward ongoing professional development and attend regularly relevant workshops and trainings. I am DBS checked and fully insured.

How I can help you

• People that I have seen in the past have told me that they found me approachable, a fine-tuned listener and also original in my approach.
• I provide a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space where you can talk openly about the challenges that you are facing. We form a team and contribute creatively to discover fresh angles of view of the problems that you are experiencing.
• My aim is to help you to reach a deeper insight into what may be the blockages in your communications that may contribute to your problems. This will hopefully enable a greater understanding of yourself.
• I will explain the process and tools available to help you during therapy, and you can choose which ones you think work best for you.

Types of therapy offered

• Relationship counselling
• Depression, anxiety
• Couples therapy
• Marriage Counselling
• Dating counselling
• Bereavement Counselling
• Counselling support for couples going through lifestyle changes
• Counselling for carers of loved ones with long term illnesses
• Therapy for trauma
• Stress reduction therapy