Angus Bailey

I offer in person therapy as well as online (via Zoom.) There is an expectation that clients that wish to work with me in person are prepared to work online when I am not available in person. 

My working hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Fridays. 

I am an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist with a background training in Person Centred, Psychodynamic and Gestalt approaches. I have also trained in Emotional Freedom Technique. 

You may have noticed that you have different parts to you and may recall or have heard others say something like ‘part of me wants to go out for a walk and  get some fresh air and part of me wants to stay in and watch a film’ or ‘part of me wants to stay in the job/relationship and part of me wants to leave it.’ These parts, as the examples show, think and feel in various ways and believe in different things (like the members of a family) and often battle internally which causes distress. By understanding the intentions of these parts you will be able to feel more connection, compassion and curiosity towards them and thus move towards a more trusting relationship where they no longer hijack, overwhelm and control you. 

IFS is a Neurobiological and Mindfulness based approach which is non pathological and goes beyond just coping and managing emotions as is so often the case in many mainstream approaches. Above all however it is a relational approach and like any healthy relationship trust is essential. This is what we would work towards. All parts of you are trying to help and need to feel acknowledged. When they feel this they can put more trust in you. IFS can aid in steering towards this culminating in a harmonisation and reintegration of  the parts of your inner system (that became fragmented earlier on in life) many of which were once adaptive but are now maladaptive. The result can be increasing self leadership and you being considerably more at ease in the world.

Some of the early sessions involve adjusting from seeing yourself from a 'mono mind' perspective to a multi conscious awareness and getting to know yourselves ie your parts/your inner ecology, so there is some psycho education at the beginning along with you sharing what brings you to therapy at a pace that is right for you. 

There are 3 broad categories of parts.

1)The Firefighters- these  are present orientated and behavioural protectors. They can include comfort eating, drinking alcohol, watching TV, exercising, taking drugs and getting angry. Their job is to protect by soothing us. 

2) The Managers- these are solution focussed and future orientated- the thinking mind. They can include everything from what time an appointment is to being critical of others or oneself. Their job is also to protect but they do this instead by trying to improve us and not sooth us like the firefighters.

3) The Exiles- these are past orientated and can show up as feelings such as sadness, despair and shame. They are our inner children which we often feel in the body and are looking to be protected, seen and heard. 

You would learn how you experience your parts. For example  anger manifesting in the chest as hot and tense followed by thinking that this anger is bad.  From this awareness we begin relating to them as they all have a story and want to be heard with reasons for what they do. For example a part that is burdened with anger was essential in the past for fending off an abuser but today there is no longer the abuse occurring. However the part carries on as though there was and alienates loved ones. Consequently another part criticises the part for being angry when it doesn't need to but the anger remains. Understanding, with warmth them is the path to healing them. 

There are many ways to get to know parts. Some examples include writing from a parts perspective, using figurines to represent the parts, movement, sculpting play do, drawing, and and using empty chairs. 

For real change to occur some exploration/play (not homework!) between sessions is highly encouraged but at a pace which is right for you and with whatever time you can afford. It's a bit like going to a personal trainer once a week in that in order to get the best from the sessions you would dedicate some time in  between to do the exercises. 

I offer an initial consultation of 30 minutes which costs £20. In this meeting I would learn whatever you would feel comfortable sharing about what brings you to therapy and what you would like to explore and gain from the sessions. Short term work would normally last between 6 to 12 sessions. This might be more goal specific, with a focus on more immediate issues. With long term work we would explore deep rooted issues, for example childhood traumas.  Above all the initial meeting is a chance for us to see if we could be a good match and for you to find out further about how I work.