about Zoe's therapy Den
A space for healing and growth
There are times when we experience life as an enormous battle. You may be wanting to understand yourself a little more, or just needing a space to talk and be listened to. Whatever is going on for you, I can perhaps help.
I am an Integrative and Transactional Analysis Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (UKCP Accredited) and Psychotherapist. It’s a real mouthful isn’t it, but this modality offers me a wide range of tools and ideas to enable you to understand what is happening and why, and together, we can look for ways to make changes and move forward. I believe that human beings need relationships in order to heal, recover and grow, and so Zoe’s Therapy Den is founded on us creating a therapeutic relationship which provides a safe, warm, nurturing space with which you can tell your story on your terms and feel heard, understood and empowered.
I have experience of working with people with anxiety, depression, victims of narcissistic abuse, bereavement, childhood trauma, complex PTSD, personality disorders and more. I am trauma informed and as a Psychotherapist naturally navigate to looking and thinking about how your experience in, and of, childhood shapes your present. Additionally, I have a real passion for family systems and family dynamics through the use of family constellation theory, looking at how ancestral trauma and events can impact the here and now. I am also about to embark on a Somatic therapy course with the aim of integrating Somatic therapy into my practice over the next few months.
I understand how daunting it can be to choose the right therapist for you, I have also been in that chair as a client many times over the years when I myself have found life to be a bit of a struggle.. It is incredibly important that you feel totally at ease and comfortable with whomever you choose to let into your own private world. Therefore, I invite you to reach out to arrange a free 30-minute conversation with me to see if I’m the right fit for you.
HOW I WORK
Transactional Analysis (TA)
TA is a theory of personality derived by Eric Berne. It posits that people operate from 3 ego states: Parent (taught) - Adult (thought) and Child (felt) which dictate communication and relationship patterns. Other key concepts include;
- Transactions: The fundamental unit of social intercourse, classified as complementary (healthy), crossed (conflict-inducing), or ulterior (hidden/manipulative
- Life Scripts: Subconscious life plans formed in childhood that dictate how individuals live their lives
- Strokes: Units of recognition, attention, or responsiveness (positive or negative) that motivate human behavior
- Games: Repetitive, unconscious, and dishonest interaction patterns (transactions) that prevent true intimacy
Conscious and Unconscious Process
Psychotherapy involves navigating the interplay between the conscious (rational, aware thoughts) and unconscious (hidden, automatic, or repressed feelings/urges) mind to foster self-awareness. I work at psychotherapeutic depth to bring automatic, deeply rooted patterns such as defensive mechanisms (e.g., repression, projection) into conscious awareness to resolve inner conflicts. If you move forward without awareness of your psychological blueprint that has formed over time we may fall short of what you want to achieve. We are all influenced deeply by the past so understanding how this is stored in our mind and body is vital in order to move forward consciously. I am deeply interested in how your past impacts your present. By encouraging you to understand these dynamics and become more present in the here-and-now we can start to utilise the potential you already hold within yourself and build towards change.
Connecting to the Body
I believe the mind and body are intimately connected though not always in apparent ways. Thoughts, emotions, and sensations are all believed to be interconnected and influence one another. Peter Levine posits that when humans experience trauma, they can become trapped in the “freeze” part of the fight, flight, or freeze response. His idea is that we remain frozen in many parts of life as a reaction to a traumatic experience. These frozen parts of ourselves accumulate energy as they should, but expend it in ways, that are counterproductive to a healthy life, such as through stress and anxiety. I can help you focus on your bodily responses to the emotions you are feeling and the memories you are recovering. Techniques such as deep breathing, relaxation exercises, visualisations and vocal work can all aid to help relieve symptoms and help you reconnect the body with the mind.
Transgenerational Trauma
I have a deep interest in transgenerational trauma and the family system.. Transgenerational trauma occurs when the effects of traumatic events experienced by one generation, such as abuse, neglect, war, or systemic oppression, impact the mental and emotional well-being of subsequent generations. This transmission can happen through various means, including behavioral patterns, emotional responses, and even biological factors. We are all also part of a wider family system and I view us as part of an interconnected, emotion and multigenerational system. I aim to work alongside you to become aware of, and identify multigenerational, unhealthy, or rigid patterns of communication and behaviour with a view to changing or breaking these patterns to enable you to become less reactive to family anxiety or dysfunction and become more autonomous.
A bit About me
After a string of bereavements, I first accessed my own therapy journey at the age of 16. I have dipped in and out of the therapy room as a client since, but never thought I’d be sat in the other ‘seat’ as a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist. But I love what I do!
I feel it is a huge privilege to be invited into someone’s world and to be able to walk alongside them as they embark on whatever journey they are on. I offer warmth, empathy, nurturing, a dose of spirituality, and a sprinkling of humour. Yes, that's right, even humour, because I want to invite all of your different parts into our space together.
As part of Zoe's Therapy Den I have also embarked on the journey of learning how to train others to be counsellors and psychotherapists as part of the Ellesmere Centre for Psychotherapy based in Hull.. It's clear to say I love to learn and to share that learning and my experience with others too.
Outside of Zoe’s Therapy Den, I am a wife and a mother to 2 boys. I love socialising with friends and family, and watching sports such as football, the Formula 1 and tennis. I have a deep passion for travel (much to my husband’s despair!!!) and need no encouragement to chase new experiences and to experience new cultures.
Location & Fees
Zoes Therapy Den is located at my home on the outskirts of Doncaster in South Yorkshire (DN9 postcode, in a village close to Doncaster airport), where I have a dedicated therapeutic space which offers privacy and confidentiality. I am also able to offer sessions online or via telephone.
I offer 60 minute sessions at a frequency of your choosing, although this is typically weekly or fortnightly.
The fee for a 60 minute session is £65 payable by bank transfer.
I currently work Tuesday to Friday predominantly between the hours of 9:30am and 3:30pm. At present I have limited availability on a Wednesday and Thursday and have currently Thursday evening slots available between 5:30pm and 8pm.
