Richmond Psychotherapy and Counselling

About me

My name is Kirstan Murphy Adams, I am a Psychotherapist with over 22 years of experience, registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
I specialise in Trauma Treatment, Attachment Assessments and Interventions. I hold a Masters in Attachment Studies (MSc).
I support adults by providing a secure place to explore and communicate their thoughts, feelings and belief systems. Through establishing a safe and relaxed environment where you can talk about your concerns without being judged. Psychotherapy fosters self-growth and equips you with the skills to live a more fulfilling life and may be the most valuable investment you will ever make.

Psychotherapy

Wherever you are in your life I'll work with you to understand your situation and provide guidance to help you attain what you're looking for.

Difficulties with trauma, relationships, stress, bereavement, depression, anxiety, family breakdowns amongst others are all issues that I am very experienced with.

I work with you to understand what factors in your life are impacting you and then provide practical solutions that will help you manage stress, reduce anxiety, improve sleep patterns and strengthen relationships.

I specifically tailor the way I work with each client so as to improve your health and self-confidence, boosting your career, work-life balance and general well being.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma impacts human beings in very specific ways, we adapt to trauma by developing patterns to protect us against the same dangers repeating themselves again. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the symptoms such as: fears, depression, fears of abandonment, flashbacks and so on, each one of these reactions represents a survival strategy. Trauma therapy is NOT about retrieving the memories of events as this often re-traumatizes the client, it is about initially learning how the brain works when we experience trauma, learning the triggers, being compassionate towards how you managed to survive during these adverse events. Finally, learning new ways of how to deal with life's challenges. The most important aspect is being curious about yourself and giving yourself time to heal in an attuned relationship.

Attachment

I undertake attachment and family assessments that place an emphasis on gaining a full understanding of family history and relationships. Having completed extensive psychological training in a number of validated assessment procedures, these assessments offer an indepth analysis of individual and family functioning. The assessment procedures used are developmentally sensitive and includes the Adult Attachment Interview and the Parent Development Interview. Understanding of how individuals process information and how things came to be, informs intervention. Without this, interventions are likely to be ineffective.

My background

I have been practicing as a qualified Gestalt Psychotherapist for over 22 years. I am a registered member with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I have undertaken an enhanced disclosure check from the criminal records bureau and I am fully insured.
The majority of my clinical work has been carried out within educational settings, agencies and private practice. I believe that building a good rapport between myself and my client is the building block of a sound therapeutic relationship. To be able to share the journey with my clients is by far the most beautiful experience, albeit being painful. Each individual has his/her own potential and my aim is to guide and uncover my client's strengths. Being able to show the client his own resources will undoubtedly support his therapeutic work.
I am empathic and warm towards my clients and I firmly believe that psychotherapy provides a safe place within which the client can begin to reclaim a sense of identity and self esteem from the chaos of modern life.