OUR THERAPISTS

GARY MEWES

Gary is committed to supporting both Adults and Couples in crisis. Gary has worked with various presentations including depression, anxiety, loss & grief, sexual addiction, porn addiction and couples relationships.

Gary also has a keen interest in mens mental health and wellbeing. After working for many years in a male dominated workplace, he understands the stereotypical ideology that men are the strong silent type, able to cope with any given situation - keep quiet and carry on.

``I understand how challenging it can be to our egos, our self-worth, to communicate feelings of emotional distress. The fear of being labelled weak can prevent us from seeking help. I have worked therapeutically with men from all backgrounds and challenge the idea that silence equals strength. Through therapeutic communication we can gain insight, a greater awareness of our issues and an opportunity for personal growth.

I work from an integrative approach which means I will endeavour to tailor all our sessions to meet your own personal requirements, allowing you to gain the most out of your therapy.``

Gary adheres to the BACP code of Ethical Practice and is also a member of CORST – College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists and ATSAC – The Association for Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity.

LUCINDA LIDSTONE

Lucinda has worked in the Caring field for many years and is deeply committed to supporting both Adults and Adolescents in Crisis. She has worked within NHS and Private mental health settings, providing individual and group therapy to inpatients on Adolescent Acute Presentation and Eating Disorder Wards. She has also been in private practice for a number of years and founded ASC to support young people and their families in the South Essex area. Adolescent Support Clinic:“At ASC we recognise the increasing pressures facing young people and how overwhelming it is for both teens and parents who don’t know where to go for support”

Lucinda works within a diverse range of presentations including: Eating Disorders, Early-onset Psychosis, Behavioural issues and Self Harm and has published research exploring the Voice Hearing experience, historically often (wrongly) associated with Schizophrenia.

Lucinda works with individuals and also facilitates creative group therapy within a workshop environment. Lucinda provides training for schools in adolescent mental health; self harming, eating disorders, anxiety and OCD; and is co-facilitating a program for schools created by 'Relationship Matters' which teaches pupils about healthy relationshps.

Lucinda is an active campaigner for the lived experience of individuals and presenter of the ‘ASCit’ podcast which addresses general mental health issues, personal growth, current research, relationships, expanding consciousness, non-ordinary experiences and existential and spiritual matters.
Lucinda works within the BACP guidelines for ethical practice and equal opportunities and is CRB checked

LESLEY BURROWS

``We are in a relationship with everything...

It is the quality of that relationship that makes the difference and it begins with the relationship you have with yourself.``

Lesley began training in 1994 and qualified as a UKCP Psychotherapist (UK Council Psychotherapy) in 2001. her original therapeutic work specialised in domestic violence with women and children. This led Lesley to reflect on relationships in the context of distance, closeness, power, control and intimacy or lack of it. During the last seven years Lesley has worked within a team that focuses on family communication within an Adult Mental Health clinical setting.

Lesley currently remains in private practice working therapeutically with individuals and couples. She also works in partnership with ASC supporting families in a therapy setting and through parenting workshops. Through ‘ASC’ and ‘Relationship Matters’ Lesley provides training for schools in adolescent mental health; self harming, eating disorders, anxiety and OCD; and has created a training program in ‘healthy relationships’ for pupils.

``Life begins not at birth but with the onslaught of awareness.``

SASHA THORNTON

Sasha has many years of experience working with young people on a 1:1 basis in private practice as well as within local Secondary schools. She works with many different presenting issues, specialising in working with individuals engaging in self harming behaviours or experiencing suicidal ideation and/or intent.

Sasha is certified in providing CBT to patients age 11 and above. CBT helps individual's change negative patterns of thinking or behaviours with talking therapy. Do you find you often experience catastrophising thinking patterns, or perhaps overthink that a particular situation didn't go as well as you thought? Do you want to challenge these beliefs and perspectives and find healthier coping strategies? Then Cognitive Behavioural Therapy could be for you.

‘I provide an empathic understanding of how life events can trigger a person in to seeing the situation as distressing and never-ending. This can often lead individuals into engaging in harmful behaviours such as self-harming or suicidal ideation in which we can explore through talking therapy. I offer a calm and relaxed environment to enable a person in exploring their negative patterns of thinking and behaviours, allowing them to challenge and change these beliefs and finding more positive and healthier alternatives.’

Sasha adheres to the BACP Code of Ethical Practice and is fully insured and DBS checked.