Barbara Deane

Most people feel overwhelmed by anxiety and painful experiences at some point in their lives, and this can be hard to deal with alone. Psychotherapy provides a safe place to develop a clearer understanding of ourselves which allows deeper connections in our relationships and frees our potential for personal growth.

While I welcome people with a range of problems, I have a particular interest in:

• grief & bereavement
• existential issues & finding meaning in life
• living with life limiting illness
• relationship & intimacy difficulties
• facing into death & dying

Counselling/Therapy Services

I draw primarily on the principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy to explore and help make sense of how past experiences influence current issues and problems. In an atmosphere of trust, acceptance and collaboration patterns can be uncovered that were originally developed as a way of dealing with difficult experiences, but which are now contributing to being stuck in unfulfilling repetitive cycles. With new awareness comes an improvement in the quality of emotional life, a greater capacity to cope with change and more satisfying relationships.

Attachment-informed grief therapy, CALM therapy (managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully) and existential psychotherapy also inform my ways of understanding the obstacles we face. We all experience loss in our lives. When we love deeply we grieve deeply and when our grief feels unbearable, we need to find an emotional home for our feelings so that we can begin healing.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

I view therapy as a collaborative effort to understand the difficulties you are facing. I am warm, genuine, responsive and bring a thoughtful and gentle presence to reflect together on what is most important to you. My approach offers a reliable and trustworthy relationship in which we can work towards the goals you have identified.

Background and Experience

Over the last decade, I have worked as a Bereavement Coordinator and therapist at Hibiscus Hospice.

I acknowledge the courage it takes to seek therapy and my commitment is to work alongside people who wish to develop their resilience and pursue growth.

The wound is the place where the light enters you. – Rumi