Karolina Christopher Integrative Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Arts

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Karolina Christopher Integrative Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Arts

Helping highly sensitive (HSP), creative and gifted individuals find emotional health after trauma. Healing begins when you are ready.

I provide therapeutic support to help you with with anxiety, depression and worries around personal, family and relationships issues. I specialise in childhood trauma, CPTSD and narcissistic relationships (parent or romantic partner). I use therapeutic conversation, somatic work, IFS and the creative arts in my practice. I am based in London, UK and offer sessions online in English and Swedish. To

book your free 20-minute initial consultation, please send me a message or visit my website. I am registered with the UKCP, BACP and ACTO (Association for Counsellors and Therapists Online). For more information, please visit my website at www.karolinachristopher.com. DISCLAIMER - The content of this page is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional services or advice. If you require urgent support, please contact your GP, the NHS 111 helpline, or the Samaritans on 116 123.

12/09/2024

Self-esteem and self-confidence are two issues that often show up in therapy.

It can be something that you know you'd like to 'work on' as you begin in therapy - or it may come up later on in sessions.

There are many courses that teach us how to 'be more confident' but, as many of us know (I used to struggle with confidence and self-esteem a lot when I was younger), it's often not as simple as that.

We can learn new skills, speak in new ways, take new consistent action, change our routines, get into new activities, work on our mindset, build new habits (and try to let go of old ones), step out of your comfort zone...but somehow, that feeling inside remains whatever you do.

Feeling small.
Feeling not good enough.
Feeling like deep down I'm a failure.

So what are we missing?

The change needs to happen through the way we relate. Self-esteem and confidence builds from the inside, and it comes from being related to in a certain way.

💕 Being treated like you matter
💗 Being treated like you belong
♥ Being treated like you're good enough
💞 Being treated like you're lovable
❤️ Being met with compassion when you struggle.

Children who are related to in this way develop a natural sense of self-esteem: I matter, I belong, I am good enough, I am lovable.

We all need someone to accept us and believe in us, and in time, we begin to internalise these qualities. From this internal place of self-trust, we feel safe to build our confidence by trying new things.

If you missed out on experiences like these growing up, therapy can provide a new opportunity to relate in a way that helps you grow and flourish.

The importance of being related to in this way comes from person-centred therapy, and was promoted by Carl Rogers, who called them the 'core conditions of growth.'

Even though I am a depth-oriented therapist supporting people with emotional health and trauma healing, my attitude towards my clients is always relational and person-centred.

If you would like some emotional support this autumn, I have some availability for online therapy sessions to start in September.

Send me a DM to book a 20-minute introductory call.

24/03/2024

Healing from emotional wounds often begins with journey of self-discovery.

Many adults unknowingly carry suppressed emotions from their childhood. These can manifest in various ways later in life, such as anxiety, depression, or somatic complaints.

Aches and pains, tension in shoulders, neck and jaw are all common ways for the body to 'outsource' emotional pain through physical dis-ease.

In order to heal, we need to consciously come back into our body and feel our feelings, so we can process them.

Here are some aspects of early relational trauma:

🤡 Developing a 'false self.' Children of emotionally immature/unavailable parents develop a false self to appease their parents and gain approval. This disconnects them from their authentic needs and desires.

🏆 Unrealistic expectations, or constantly moving the goal posts. Children raised in this way may internalize a pressure to succeed, leading to low self-esteem and a constant sense of inadequacy.

😥 A lack of unconditional love. Every child deserves to be loved for who they are, not for what they achieve. A child who experiences the damaging effects of conditional affection may carry feelings of not being good enough, and may try hard to prove themselves in adulthood, which can lead to burnout.

🛑 Not learning about boundaries. Growing up without a healthy sense of boundaries, including having your 'no' respected, makes it harder to for us to protect ourselves from emotional manipulation or abuse as we grow up.

😞 Intergenerational trauma. Parents who haven't healed their own wounds may unconsciously repeat unhealthy patterns with their children.

The good news is that as adults, we have the power to break this cycle. By recognising the impact of our childhood experiences, acknowledging past hurts and practicing self-compassion, parents can heal and build healthier relationships with their children.

Here's how therapy can help:

❤️‍🩹 Therapy can help you to connect with your true self and identify your genuine needs and desires, so you can nurture yourself, live more authentically, and let go of your limiting 'false self.'

❤️‍🩹 Therapy can help you to explore and understand your emotions in the context of your life story, and tune into where you've been holding them physically. With better self-awareness, it is easier to make better self-care choices.

❤️‍🩹 Therapy can help you to identify and set healthy boundaries in your life. And to learn how to communicate your boundaries to others.

Therapy can lead to empowerment and transformation. By acknowledging their past and practising self-acceptance, individuals can release old narratives and patterns.

This can lead to more fulfilling relationships and a more authentic life.

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Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 15:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 15:00
Saturday	10:00 - 12:00

Website

http://www.karolinachristopher.com/

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