Shelley Holland
Member Status: Senior Accredited
Member No: NCS21-02383
Location: Hove
The key approaches I call upon are the psychodynamic approach, attachment theory, trauma-informed (including EMDR), and somatic/body psychotherapy.
My initial training was in the psychodynamic approach where the emphasis is on providing a secure and safe environment in which to explore both conscious and unconscious feelings, with an emphasis on understanding how past experiences are shaping and influencing relationships in the present. My work is also influenced by the work of body psychotherapy and mindfulness where attention is paid to the whole person and how experiences and feelings are felt both emotionally and physically.
I am able to offer EMDR therapy, which is acknowledged as an effective treatment for trauma by both NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) and WHO (World Health Organisation), and which is also an effective therapy for a wide range of issues, including bereavement and phobias. Attachment-based therapy also informs my work. This is where difficulties in adult relationships can be understood by reflecting on the influence of 'attachment patterns' developed in childhood, and the nature of the bonds we made with our early care-givers.
I am very interested in the use of metaphor, narratives and stories in counselling. Stories can also be an important part of therapy. We all have a story, perhaps many stories, that have helped us at some point to make sense of our lives and the experiences we’ve had. Sometimes these stories seem to stop working, perhaps because of changes in our relationships with others, or because our life circumstances have changed. By incorporating techniques and skills from various disciplines, I can find the approach that best fits each and every person I work with. We are all individuals, and we are all unique, and no single one approach fits everyone.
I run a training organisation called Brighton Therapy Partnership dedicated to the provision of training workshops and continuing professional development to therapists across the UK and beyond. Through my Directorship of this organisation I am in constant contact with the most up-to-date clinical thinking. I am also a Senior Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and a member of the Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Association UK.
