Chris Brennan Therapy

What to expect

Dealing with life can be overwhelming when things don’t work out the way you want and leave you feeling isolated. My sessions will provide a safe, confidential space for you to express the things that matter. We will work collaboratively to help you take the steps you need to get on with your life.

I believe in keeping therapy simple. Working on clear objectives, with regular evaluations.

Themes I work with include anxiety disorders, confidence building, obsessive compulsive disorders, trauma, burnout and grief.

I work with adults and adolescents.

My Way of Working

All sessions are conducted online via Zoom

I believe that the most healing factor in therapy is our therapeutic relationship. So my approach is geared to meeting your individual needs. The therapy is integrative, so I am able to adapt my style of working to meet your specific needs. My experience as a drama therapist means that I can also offer creative ways of looking at difficulties , providing a valuable alternative to words

Our work starts with an initial meeting. An opportunity to ask questions about how I work, and decide with confidence whether I am the right therapist for you.

Christopher Brennan MA, Cert CBT, Clinical Supervisor, HCPC Registered

Like many teenagers, some of my adolescence was quite turbulent, at times it felt as if I was completing an emotional assault course. But the experience has afforded me the insight, and a deep seated empathy with this defining stage of development.

I graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama after qualifying as a Drama Therapist. Soon after this I enhanced my skills with a qualification in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). For over two decades I have practiced in a range of settings: Mainstream/Specialist schools, National Fostering Agency, London Ambulance Service, and private practice.

I adhere to the standards and ethics of The Health and Care Professionals Council. I have a current Enhanced DBS Certificate.

my areas of expertise

Anxiety

In the span of my career, I have noticed that anxiety is the most frequent presentation in young people. Anxiety is a normal, human feeling of fear or panic. The manifestations and causes, however are diverse. Adolescents today are exposed to a huge amount of media, social expectations and academic pressures. It's no wonder they can become overwhelmed and feel unable to cope. In my sessions I aim to identify and address the source of anxiety, then help the client to unravel it, find alternative perspectives and finally, find ways to work through the anxiety and help bring it to a close.

Low Self Esteem

If a person has low self esteem, they have negative beliefs about themselves and will tend to highlight their mistakes and focus on their weaknesses. Low self esteem can result in a person negatively judging their own ability to complete daily tasks, and as a result it can affect a young person’s performance at school or their social life. These experiences can make a young person feel confused, inadequate, or isolated. The first steps are focused on listening, validating and then introducing perspective.

Phobias and Obsessive Behaviour

People who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), experience intrusion and unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, or doubts that are regularly repeated in their minds. These obsessions are often of a distressing nature and can be so embarrassing or horrible that they are kept secret from others. Intrusive obsessions often result in increased anxiety and the development of ritualistic behaviour or compulsions.

Welcome to Chris Brennan Therapy