Emma Pott - Profile

I see that all behaviours such as self-harm, suicide attempts, drinking, drug abuse and other impulsive behaviours have developed as coping strategies to cope with and numb difficult emotions and experiences. These behaviours often act as a plaster to a deeper wound, but just like a plaster they don’t really ever fully heal unless they have time to air and heal properly. This is the work of therapy to take off the plaster and look more towards the root causes of the behaviour to work out what is going on for you. I believe that we are all shaped by our environments and we make sense of the world around us through our experiences of relationship, particularly those in childhood.

I place a strong emphasis on the relationship between myself and my client. I see this is crucial in working from a trauma informed perspective where often difficulties have originated from difficult childhood relationships and experiences. Like many therapists I am trained to work with a range of difficulties, but I have a particular interest in working with clients who have experienced childhood trauma and difficulties such as self-harm that can often associated with a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder / Borderline Personality Disorder / Complex PTSD. Although I am not diagnosis led many people see me who might have a diagnosis, I work to see, understand and explore what is really going on for you that is behind a diagnosis and get to the route cause of the difficulty.

How I Work & Who I Work With

I work holistically taking an integrative view of the whole person understanding their story and how they have come to be in the here and now, how their difficulties might have arisen and where they might want to bring change. Although I work in the present moment to understand someone’s difficulties and reasons for therapy, I believe our past does play a role and understanding through reflection on these experiences and how they inform the individual today is key for being able to make the changes the individual is wanting. My previous work as a Registered Mental Nurse informs my practice in having a deep understanding to the neurobiology of the body which is particularly helpful in understanding the body’s nervous system and how it responds to external stressors. I might incorporate different approaches to the work that we do including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT) as well as more traditional psychotherapy perspectives.

Like all therapists I am trained and experienced in helping people with a wide range of difficulties but I have a particular interest in helping people who have experienced the following:

– Childhood trauma
– Physical / sexual / emotional abuse
– Self-harm
– Suicidal thoughts / urges and attempts
– Spirituality
– Life choices and transitions

Next steps:

If any of this resonates with you and you would like to start therapy get in touch to arrange a free initial call which lasts around 20 minutes. This is an opportunity for us both to get a gauge of each other and if you feel able to work with me. During this call we will go through some of the following:

• Reasons for considering therapy
• What has worked / not worked in the past and any goals you have
• A brief overview of your history
• I’ll explain a little bit about how I work and how I might be able to help you
• Talk through availability, fees and contracting
• Ask any questions you might have

I have over 15 years experience in mental health within the NHS and private. I continue to work in the NHS within a specialist Complex Emotional Needs Service where I primarily deliver a DBT programme for clients who self-harm / struggle with suicidal thoughts, they may meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder / Borderline Personality Disorder.