Welcome
Welcome to my website
I'm here to listen
I'm here to help
MORE ABOUT ME
My Therapeutic Practice
I work with adults, couples and families with a particular emphasis on relationship issues. I have extensive training in many different therapeutic approaches but I will always start our journey together by establishing a clear and shared understanding of what it is that has brought you into therapy and what you need from it. From there we will decide on the most appropriate approach to meet your needs. I am trained to work with RLT (relational life therapy), IFS (internal family systems), CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) as well as EMDR (standard protocol and attachment-informed) and systemic (narrative/systemic) approaches As a pluralist, I will select the most appropriate approach from this palette to best suit your needs.
My Expertise
My approach to psychotherapy is based on an understanding that all our experiences affect how our brain has become wired to respond and react in different situations. The brain is a wonderful resource for us but it can sometimes (oftentimes) get in the way of us living our fullest life - it can make us fearful and anxious when we don't need to be, it can cause a darkness to come over us that makes the future feel hopeless when there is actually hope, it can lead us to over-react to situations based on our past experiences rather than present information, to self-medicate with substances and behaviours that cause us harm in the long term, or to keep engaging in painful and unrewarding relationship patterns. Developing a deeper and more compassionate understanding of who we are and what we do is often the first step in the therapeutic process.
How does psychotherapy help?
Much of the therapeutic process is about learning how to regain control of our thoughts, feelings, relationships and behaviours so that we are better equipped to live our fullest and best life. Often this involves recovering from past hurts and traumas, or learning new ways of thinking and new ways to keep ourselves emotionally secure. The role of therapy is to get to know ourselves better so that can make good choices in our lives. This involves developing a capacity to self reflect on our own part in the dance of life. This can often feel challenging and uncomfortable but simultaneously liberating and empowering. Therapy is different from talking to friends and family. It is a place where you get to work on issues that are causing you difficulty and through this process you get to know yourself so that you can continue facing life's challenges in a new and more life-giving way long after the therapy is over.
THERAPY WITH PRISCILLA SHORT
Depression & Anxiety
Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counselling and treatment you can recover your motivation, perspective, and the joy that you once had in your life.
Trauma & PTSD
Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Whilst the traumatic events we have experienced may be held long ago, in the past, the traumatising legacy of those experiences often lingers and endures into our present lives. Psychological trauma is the way in which traumatic experiences are stored in our minds and bodies - often causing us to live in continued pain long after we have survived traumatic past experiences. Psychotherapy and EMDR can help you overcome these traumas and guide you through the process of grief and healing.
Relationships
I have an MA in relationship therapy and work extensively with couples and individuals to sort out relationship difficulties. I am also trained in in Terry Real's RLT (Relational Life Therapy) up to level three and this approach now underpins the way I approach couple and relationship therapy, working really dynamically with couple relationships to identify and shift unhelpful learned patterns of interacting.
Relationship counselling can be beneficial to couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship. Therapy sessions are usually held with both partners and are a supportive place to discuss issues and solutions to better strengthen your relationship.
Past traumas and relational experiences can often serve to sabotage our present relationships and along with RLT, an exciting new intervention is the utilisation of EMDR in couple therapy. Very often (if not always) we have particular relationship sensitivities and vulnerabilities linked to our formative relationship experiences.This can mean that couples repeatedly replay the same dynamic arguments (even though the topic may change). Receiving EMDR on past hurts and vulnerabilities together with your partner present can be a profoundly moving and enlightening experience for both partners and can bring deep healing to the couple relationship.