If you break your leg, you see a doctor, or if you develop a tooth- ache, you simply arrange a visit to the dentist. But why isn’t it the same when we struggle with our mental health?

One in four people in the UK will experience mental health issues each year, with one in six reporting a common problem, such as anxiety and depression, in any given week, according to official figures.

With our hectic lifestyles, increased workloads and the difficulty of achieving a work-life balance, it’s no surprise we’re so stressed. But despite the high numbers of people suffering anxiety and depression, many don’t realise that dealing with a mental health issue is similar to dealing with a physical issue – the problem is unlikely to resolve by itself and it’s best to seek out professional help.

I specialise in treating a variety of mental health issues, from addiction to obsessive compulsive disorder.

My approach to take into consideration all aspects of the self, offering bespoke programmes that also include nutri- tion, personal training, meditation and Tai Chi.

I follow the philosophy of American writer Ken Wilber, who believes different types of therapy are appropriate for different individuals.

He also believes in a holistic approach, combining exercise, nutrition, spirituality and sometimes medication to give people the tools to cope better.

How do people know if they need to see a therapist? The answer is complex.

There’s a difference between ‘needing’ a therapist and finding it useful and helpful to go to a therapist. If we compare therapy to physiotherapy, you ‘need’ to go to a physiotherapist if you are not functionally capable of doing normal activities. However, you might also go to a physiotherapist to improve your personal health or strength.

So too, there are some people who need to go to a therapist who are not able to function in a healthy way, for example when it comes to controlling their anger or taking drugs. However, most people find
it useful to go to a therapist for various issues because it can help them, for example having a better relationship with their spouse.

There are three steps to consider before choosing a therapist that’s right for you and booking a session.

Consider the personal characteristics of the therapist you would prefer: male or female, older or younger, someone of the same faith, and so on. Consider the appropriate level of experience for the therapist, and then consider, with a professional, which is likely to be the best type of therapy for your specific issues.

But for some people, there’s a barrier before even getting to that point.

There are various reasons why people are reluctant to undergo therapy. Mostly they feel it is unlikely to be effective, takes up a considerable amount of time and money, or will be an uncomfortable or painful process even if it does work.

I reassure them by saying that although not all therapy is successful, this is only true when either people do not click or get on with their therapist, or that they have the wrong type of therapy for their issues.

I believe that different types of conditions need different types of therapy. For this reason, I do an in-depth assessment of each individual when they first come into therapy and then choose the most effective therapy for each person.

Over the years, I have helped clients of all ages, demographics and backgrounds.