” Not the world, not what’s outside of us, but what we hold inside traps us. We may not be responsible for the world that created our minds, but we can take responsibility for the mind with which we create our world.”
Gabor Maté
Welcome
My name is Anja Townsley Busk and I offer in person, online and telephone counselling services in Godmanchester/Huntingdon and surrounding areas.
My approach to counselling is rooted in person-centred philosophy and a belief that each person is able – with the right support- to overcome challenging life situations. Therapy provides an opportunity to grow, develop and heal. My role in this is to help you understand yourself better and make sense of your experience of the world, including those aspects which may have negative effects on your quality of life and wellbeing. We all have something to work on, to understand better or change. This could be a specific problem like a relationship, an identity crisis, a work related issue or an illness, bereavement or a specific fear. Or it could be a more general feeling of unease, anxiety, depression, meaninglessness, emptiness or discontent.
Through my experience as a therapist and as a client I have come to believe that these crises also provide an opportunity to grow and develop. Understanding our position in the world, our pain and our wounds as well as our goals and ambitions often helps to develop strong self-esteem and the ability to heal ourselves.
I have a special interest and have undertaken further training in the effects of childhood trauma. Normal responses to an abnormal situation can include sleeplessness, feeling overwhelmed, anxious or on edge, extreme fatigue, physical symptoms, intrusive memories, flash backs, guilt, shame or anger. These can impact relationships and lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Counselling offers the confidential support necessary to make sense of our experiences and rebuild our life.
Training and professional memberships:
MBACP
BA (Hons) Person Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy
Member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD)
Member of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD)
Previous career and experience:
I have chosen to become a therapist in the second part of my life after a career in radiography and more recently as a language teacher for A-level students. This has shown me that nothing in life is ever lost and every experience shapes us to be the person we are now. Working in a private cancer clinic has caused me to grapple with existential questions and given me a desire to be a companion when life seems without hope. It was during my time as a teacher that I decided to become a therapist after realising the enormous demand for psychological help for young people.
As well as working in private practice I volunteer some of my hours to a charitable christian counselling organisation.
Client Focus:
teenagers
young adults
adults
older adults
Sessions:
Some clients want to focus on a single issue, this might be around making a choice or making personal sense of something, often in the here and now. In these situations short term work of between 4-6 sessions may be sufficient. Other clients might want to look at recurring patterns of behaviour and relating which often have it’s roots in relationships in our family of origin. This work can be time limited or long term and is regularly reviewed. The choice to continue, pause or end safely lies with you, the client.
Sometimes, what brings a client to therapy is just a sense of something unsettling or an existential crisis. Taking a person-centred approach gives you control over the areas of your life we work through together, and enables you to pace the sessions in a way that feels right to you.
Trauma therapy is often long term and is focused on enabling clients to live in the here and now by recognising triggers in connection to past trauma. This approach utilises the latest advances and proven techniques to resolve deeply held trauma. It is a gentle approach and improvement is possible without revisiting traumatic memories.
Contact:
Either through email to annietherapy@hotmail.com or by text to 07842241650. I will contact you to arrange a free 15 minute phone call to answer any questions you may have. From here you may decide to book a no obligation initial assessment session. This and all future appointments cost £60 per 50-minute session. I offer some concessionary rates.
Expertise:
Anger management
Anxiety
Bereavement
Bipolar Disorder
Bisexual
Child
Depression
Developmental Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Divorce
Emotional Disturbance
Mood Disorders
Relationship Issues
Stress
Trauma and PTSD
Women’s Issues
Contact me
annietherapy@hotmail.com 07842241650
Caddis Counselling and Psychotherapy 