Crissy Duff - Psychotherapist, Counsellor & Supervisor
Warm, Respectful, Compassionate Therapy
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
Soren Kierkegaard
About
Therapy
There are many different reasons why people seek therapy. You may be experiencing a sense of stuckness, a lack of direction, or turmoil in your life. Perhaps you are struggling with change or a lack of balance, or living with depression, anxiety or stress. You may have suffered a trauma, loss, illness or separation. Feelings of confusion, hopelessness, fear, anger or despair may seem overwhelming.
Whatever your reasons for coming to therapy, I will meet you with compassion and empathy, welcoming you into a safe and confidential space, in which to explore your thoughts and feelings and to reflect upon your own experience of life and the world.
About Me
I am a qualified and experienced psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, working within my own private practice in The Groves area of New Malden. I have worked as a therapist in variety of settings, including a GP practice, Borough Council and in local schools. Between 2010 and 2018, I worked as a therapeutic mentor for students with mental health, physical and learning difficulties, for the Disability and Dyslexia Department of Kingston University. From 2019 to 2021, I held the role of Clinical and Practice Manager at Help Counselling in Notting Hill; a mental health charity and counselling trainee placement, offering low-cost counselling for the local West London community. I currently hold the position of Clinical Lead of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, Family Support Service, which offers pre-bereavement support for families following a parental diagnosis of a cancer which cannot be cured.
As a therapist and brainspotting practitioner, my clients include children, adolescents, families, adults and couples. I also run therapy groups organised around specific issues including parenting, menopause, pre and post bereavement, separation and divorce.
I offer supervision for both qualified and trainee counsellors and psychotherapists and also for those working in a pastoral, health care, teaching or support role. I work one to one and with groups, both privately and within an organisational setting.
1.
Adults
I am an Integrative Relational therapist and my training and approach draws upon a range of different Humanistic therapies including Gestalt, Person Centred and Existential, as well as Attachment and Mindfulness based approaches.
Children & Adolescents
For some young people, talking therapy feels comfortable and easily accessible, whilst for others I may incorporate the Expressive Arts, a gentle, creative and sometimes playful form of therapy, which entails meeting each client where they are in the moment and may involve the use of art materials, clay, sand tray, music, poetry, creative writing, games, puppets and movement.
I recognise the significance of context and so when working with younger clients, I appreciate the importance of the family setting and relationships with parents, siblings etc. With this in mind, we may work towards bringing other family members in to the work, through periodic review sessions, in order to best support and enhance learning, growth and change. This work is done only with the full support of the client and with absolute respect for the boundaries of confidentiality.
Couples
When working with couples, it is the relationship rather than the individual that becomes the client and therefore the focus of the work. With this in mind I strive to achieve a balance that supports both parties equally.
Families
In family counselling, I offer a mutually defined and boundaried, bespoke approach, which may incorporate therapy, mediation, psychoeducation, support and guidance within a safe holding environment for all participants.
Pre & Post Bereavement
Pre-bereavement is defined as the period following a terminal diagnosis of a condition that cannot be cured, leading up to the point of bereavement. When children, adults and families are appropriately supported to prepare for the death of a loved one, in both emotional and practical ways, we see a significant improvement in their post bereavement experiences and well-being.
As an experienced pre and post bereavement therapist and the Clinical Lead of a nationwide pre-bereavement service, I work with individuals, couples, young people and families both face to face and online.
2.
Supervision, Therapeutic Mentoring and Parent Support
I am a qualified and experienced clinical and organisational supervisor, having trained with the Centre for Supervision and Team Development (CSTD London). My way of working encompasses the Seven-Eyed Model and I favour a creative approach, which is holding and offers a healthy balance between challenge and support, with the aim of helping the individual to develop their own internal supervisor.
I have been a therapeutic mentor since 2010, initially within a university setting and now both privately and within organisations, where I take a supporting, advisory or consultancy role in one to one and group work, with adults, teams and young people.
I have over 16 years experience of working in the field of parenting, having originally cut my teeth at Netmums.com, where I was an expert contributor to two parenting books: 'The Ultimate Baby and Toddler Q&A' and 'You and Your Tween' in addition to working as a senior parent supporter. I take a non critical, collaborative approach to my work with parents, working with individual families and also offering specialised advice and support for larger groups.
3.
Brainspotting for Trauma
The use of Brainspotting in my work, complements rather than supercedes my core training in integrative relational talking therapy. BSP enables me to work with you, to identify the neurophysiological origins of emotional and physical responses, pain, trauma and dissociation, opening up the potential for profound healing through a unique level of relational attunement.
Brainspotting, having been discovered and developed since 2003 by David Grand PhD, begins from the simple premise that where we look affects how we feel. This brain focussed technique, works by noticing significant eye positions, thus locating ‘brainspots,’ which when stimulated support the client to process and release emotional and embodied conditions and material.
1.
Weekly therapy session prices
Adults - £70
Young People - £75
Families and Parent Support - £80
Couples - £80
Brainspotting - £80
Groups - Prices upon request.
Face to face sessions are held at my home-based private practice in South West London. Online sessions take place via Zoom. I hold a limited number of reduced rate sessions for exceptional circumstances and I am happy to discuss this with you.
Supervision session prices:-
One to One - £70
Group Supervision - Prices upon request
Therapeutic Mentoring/Consultancy - Prices upon request
2.
For me, a significant factor in the success of counselling is the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Speaking to someone for the first time can feel difficult, even frightening and it's important that you find the right therapist for you. Please feel free to contact me by phone, text, email, or by using the link below, whichever feels more comfortable for you.
Email :- crissyduff@counsellinginsurrey.net
Phone :- 07554 180 060
