Ishita Pateria
Master of Sciences in Counselling Psychology, City University, London
Master of Sciences in Mental Health: Psychological Therapies, Queen Mary University
Foundation course in Psychotherapy and Counselling, Regents College
Certificate in Humanistic Psychotherapy, Institute of Human Technology, Heart to Heart Foundation
Therapy Style
Which bucket would your therapy style fit into primarily?
I overall follow an integrative approach but I primarily follow styles from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Humanistic therapy and mindfulness. I pay attention to the prime concerns the client is coming with and help them create goals to focus in therapy. I provide a safe space for them to become aware of their emotions, their environment, their beliefs, systems but also pay attention to the society and how they have been brought up. I further use a mindful approach in helping them overcome their struggles and process their emotions in order to cope with their problems better. At the same time, I teach them various tools including those from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that help them in their day to day functioning.
What’s that defining feature of your approach to therapy?
My prime area of focus in therapy is client care and confidentiality. I do not believe in advising or telling the client what to do but help them become aware and prepare them to take whatever step they want to. My therapy space is a safe space for the client to process their negative thoughts and other emotions which they may not have another space to process.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Targets psychological problems by looking at learned patterns of unhelpful behaviour. Helps better understand and identify distorted thoughts and develop a better sense of confidence in one’s own abilities.
Humanistic approach: Focuses on a person’s individual nature, rather than categorizing groups of people with similar characteristics as having the same problems. Humanistic therapy looks at the whole person, not only from the therapist’s view but from the viewpoint of individuals observing their own behaviour.