Daniel Goodey

Outdoor Therapy

Connecting with nature can provide many mental and physical health benefits. The Â鶹ԭ´´ states that, ‘Outdoor therapy can help with just about anything indoor therapy can. Research shows it’s useful for those who feel stuck in therapy, for survivors of institutional and therapeutic abuse, and for those who have had bad experiences of therapy. It can also be helpful for people who find the conventional therapy setting awkward and uncomfortable, as well as those who generally find it easier to talk when moving.’ (/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/outdoor-therapy/)

Many people find this more informal approach to be less daunting, and those who experience issues of hyperactivity or maintaining attention often find the dynamic nature of being outside and walking or simply sitting by a stream to be more comfortable and less restrictive than meeting in a formal office setting. Some people feel it helps to reduce levels of anxiety and depression, enhance feelings of wellbeing, and promote positive emotions. Working within the natural environment provides opportunities for exploring our own senses of self within a dynamic context, holistically incorporating physical activity as part of the psychotherapeutic process.

If you feel that this approach to exploring issues therapeutically interests you, then you can arrange a free initial online consultation to discuss how this style of therapy could work for you.

LGBTQIA+ Issues

LGBTQIA+ identities – including Grey Ace, demiromantic, demisexual – can be difficult to explore safely, authentically and congruently. It can be difficult to get a clear idea of your own sense of identity and feel at peace with it. From the moment we are born, social conventions establish how we should appear, behave and love. Our identities can feel as if they are imposed by others – we put on masks and act how others want us to be. But who we are – our identity – and our sense of belonging in this world can only be developed from within. Each of us needs to claim who we are for ourselves.

Finding a space to explore this in a non-judgmental and positive environment can be difficult. Yet, this is exactly the environment I aim to create for you. A place to explore who you feel yourself to be and what stops you being the individual that is you.

If you would like to explore what therapy with me might be like and see if we would journey well together as you seek to assess and claim your own sense of identity, then contact me to arrange a free initial online consultation.

Feeling Stuck & Searching for Purpose

Life presents us with challenges and opportunities. Navigating these can sometimes cause anxiety about the choices we make, depression from feeling overwhelmed or even a sense of hopelessness when things get too much.

Therapeutically examining our lived experiences and the choices we make in a safe, supportive, non-judgmental, and encouraging space often provides opportunities to gain clarity of our true selves and how to live our lives authentically.

The human experience is unique, and each person sees and experiences the world in their own way. Therapy with me begins with the understanding that no one can see and experience the world in the same exact way as you do. We may have similarities of experiences and share understandings of their significance, but the feelings, emotions, memories and senses of self they generate combine to create a unique experience that can only be fully identified by the person experiencing them. We each try to understand and identify meaning in our lives and to find our own sense of purpose.

This approach is based on the idea that we are ‘thrown into existence’. From birth to death we are on a journey not necessarily of our own choosing. But we can choose how much we are willing to take responsibility for our own lives, living by values that we claim as our own. Not doing so often leads to feeling stuck.

If this approach resonates with you, you can arrange a free initial online consultation to see if I would be a good match for your exploration of self and life choices.

Faith-Based and Spirituality Focused

Faith in a greater power than us is often one of the foundational experiences in childhood. It can shape our world view and establish our sense of purpose and morality. Yet, these beliefs can be shaken by challenges in our everyday lives. Faith leaders provide guidance, and some provide wise counsel, but are not always able to explore personal experiences without judgement. There are times when a person’s religion, community or faith leader are experienced as the source of emotional distress. Finding a safe space separate from the individual, group or organisation can be useful in gaining perspective and exploring your own internal wisdom and the choices available in responding to the challenges.

I aim to provide a safe and affirming space for you to explore emotional distress and issues associated with religion, faith-based traumas, and spiritual concerns. I have completed advanced studies in faith-based systems. I taught religious education for many years, working from a philosophical perspective.

Feelings of guilt, shame, and loss of being anchored can often result from the loss of trust and feelings of security and confidence in our faith and beliefs. If you feel that you would benefit from exploring these issues therapeutically, then you can arrange a free initial online consultation to see if I would be a good companion on your journey of exploration.

Trauma & Emotional Collapse

Traumas come in many forms and for many reasons. They can feel isolating and controlling. They can induce fear and a strong determination to never allow them to happen again. Our responses can come in many forms: from emotional collapse to withdrawal, from anger to hyper-vigilance.

Just as each person’s trauma is uniquely theirs alone, there’s no fixed way in which trauma is experienced and no single way to work through it. Various methods exist to manage the symptoms and perhaps even close over the wound, but trauma leaves an emotional scar as a continuous reminder of the event. A scar that we can learn to live with, and to learn from. So, how do we understand our trauma? What does it mean? How does it fit with our sense of identity? We can’t wish it away, but we can find a way to move on, to grow and develop, and to be stronger from our experiences.

Working from a position focused on your experiences and what they mean to you in your life, I aim to provide a safe, empathetic, non-judgemental and encouraging space for you to explore traumatic events, how they have impacted your life and how to move forward. In this area, I work primarily with:

• Military personnel and those experienced with combat and other life-threatening situations;

• Childhood experiences – abuse, neglect, abandonment, care-experienced;

• Those experiencing life-limiting conditions and those supporting them;

• Others who feel this approach would be of use in exploring the significance and meaning of life.

If you would like to examine how therapy with me might help, then contact me to arrange a free initial online consultation.