Dr Amanda Elizabeth Hall
Chartered and HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist
A safe and confidential space to explore, understand and learn how to respond skilfully to unwanted thoughts, feelings and experiences in life.
About Me - Dr. Amanda Hall
Hello, my name is Amanda. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my website, and for considering me to walk alongside you, as you explore and learn to manage difficult or unwanted thoughts, feelings or experiences in your life. It takes courage to seek support on this journey and finding a therapist can be tricky. Knowing more about your clinician’s training, experience and style can help you decide whether they are the right therapist for you. As a chartered psychologist with experience in both NHS and private settings, I provide highly specialised evidence based therapy for a range of emotional difficulties. I have over 15 years experience of delivering psychological support and my areas of special interest and experience include anxiety, depression, difficulties with self esteem and personality disorders. I can offer bespoke and effective treatment, including single session treatment.
As a psychologist I am passionate about delivering therapies that are proven to work. I specialise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). These approaches help me to work with complex, longstanding emotional difficulties.
I also draw upon other approaches in my work such as mindfulness based CBT (MBCT), Internal Family systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing therapy. Whilst these approaches have a proven track record in helping my clients get better, I believe that a safe, clear, respectful and compassionate therapeutic relationship provides the vital foundation for learning, growth and transformation.
Alongside my clinical work I provide clinical supervision, psychological coaching and offer workshops on resilience and wellbeing, specifically for those in the helping professions. I am an avid reader, coffee drinker and former Irish Dancing champion.
My approach
I have a strong commitment to evidence based therapies and help people to identify, reduce and accept unwanted thoughts and emotions. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and mindfulness-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
My areas of special interest and experience include anxiety, depression, difficulties with self-esteem and personality disorders. I have extensive experience working with people with more longstanding difficulties and am particularly interested in the role of shame in the context of psychological distress. I have helped many people learn how to respond skilfully to the inevitable challenges of life. In our initial session we will work to formulate the difficulties you are experiencing and I will share with you the most effective approach and interventions to help you feel better sooner. Evidence and my experience indicate that people often feel significantly better after a single session, leaving feeling more hopeful and in control. Single session, ongoing therapy and psychological coaching are offered.
My intention is to work collaboratively with you in order to develop a shared understanding of the difficulties, help you to clarify and live in accordance to your values (what matters most to you in life), identify and use your strengths, learn new skills where needed and cultivate the conditions for resilience and courage in order to live wholeheartedly.
Speak in Confidence
The therapy I provide occurs in a safe place in which you will be seen, heard, understood and helped to find your way skilfully through whatever it is you may be encountering. Sensitivity to your suffering, compassion, empathy, humour and curiosity will help build that felt sense of safety so that you can freely express your experiences, knowing that I will be right there alongside you in our time together. Everything you share with me is treated with the respect and confidentiality that is needed. Naturally there are limits to confidentiality such as ensuring that your safety and the safety of others is prioritised and protected, but you can rest assured that there will be no surprises. This is your therapy and the process is transparent, honest and open.
A problem shared
I believe that therapy at its most basic level is an exchange of ideas. In this exchange we can acquire new knowledge, develop skill, cultivate experiences to develop the necessary and needed approach to life in a more complicated and challenging world. The more we understand about what it is to be human, that we have a mind built for us and not by us, the more we can make choices that help versus harm us in all areas of our lives.
Make better choices
In our work together, you will learn that much of what you do and how you think is not your fault, but that it is your responsibility. Helping you to develop compassion for the struggles you are having will enable you to deal more flexibly with challenges whilst staying aligned to the things that really matter to you, increasing a sense of meaning, purpose and engagement.
What issues can therapy help with?
I work with adults aged 18 and above and the therapy I provide can address many of the common difficulties we experience as humans such as anxiety, depression, trauma, emotion dysregulation, relationship issues, problems with eating, problems with sleep, work stress, burnout, grief, perimenopause, menopause and addiction.
I have a library of resources often shared between sessions to help empower you to look after yourself and use your strengths.
Support now
I do not provide crisis or emergency support. If you are in need of support right now then please do use the following resources.
Call The Samaritans (24hr): 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Call Saneline: 0845 767 8000 (6pm – 11pm)
Call Rethink: 0845 456 0455 (Mon – Fri, 10am – 2pm)
Call CALM: 0800 58 58 58 (Everyday, 5pm – midnight)
Call Maytree: 020 7263 7070 (www.maytree.org.uk)
Text SHOUT to 85258: (24/7, www.giveusashout.org)
Make an appointment with your GP
Call NHS Direct on 111
If you are in a life-threatening situation or cannot keep yourself safe: Go to your local A&E and if you cannot get there safely call 999
"Amanda is a truly invaluable support to me. She has helped me in embracing and accepting my physical appearance after years of self torment; to more recently helping me deal with post natal anxiety. Amanda is pragmatic, good humoured, compassionate, intelligent and uses an array of psychological techniques to adapt to whatever topic I present; critically she personalises therapy to me and my needs. I cannot recommend her highly enough, nor can I ever express how truly grateful I am to have had her support in the most difficult of times."
Carol, Berkshire
"Amanda definitely changed my life. She has a great mix of being conversational and giving the sessions structure, purpose and focus. The sessions were always kind, compassionate and understanding yet with a friendly guidance that always brought me to realise issues I needed to address and how I might make changes. Amanda became a deeply trusted ally in what I was going through. She was non-judgmental and helpful about the most private details and personal matters that I may have been ashamed to discuss with another therapist. This was extremely freeing and productive to my making progress. I found her very relatable and it was very useful the way she mixed simple conversation with countless professional insights and sometimes relevant personal experiences."
Matthew, Buckinghamshire
"I have been seeing Amanda for long term work over several years, and have always felt uplifted and encouraged after our sessions. Amanda has helped me in so many ways to maintain better insight and understanding of my difficulties, as well as teach me practical ways to deal with my problems and situations. She has given me hope and strength on many occasion."
Karen, London
"Amanda has helped me develop the skills to cope with the difficult transition of peri-menopause during which I developed anxiety, sleeplessness and a real dent in my confidence. Our sessions helped me to understand what was happening, cultivate compassion for my suffering and develop a life long approach to dealing with stressors. I honestly can’t thank her enough for being steadfast, wise and human."
Gina, Berkshire
"Amanda has supported me after I received a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. She is a compassionate, sensitive and wise guide as I continue to come to terms with my situation. I feel heard and seen and can have the types of conversations I need right now, searingly honest, open and non judgemental. Through this I am finding the courage to live in a way that matters most to me. I am truly grateful to have met her and know that she has enhanced my life for the better."
Ali, Bucks
Fees & Location
I accept self-funding clients and those using private medical insurance. I am registered with most major insurance healthcare companies such as BUPA, Aviva, AXA, Cigna, Vitality and WPA, as well as other small providers. My standard fee is £120 per session. Sessions are typically 60 minutes in duration unless agreed otherwise. I offer both online and face to face options.
Fees for training, teaching or group therapy are available on request. I require 48 hours for cancellations without which the session will be charged at the full rate. I accept cash payments and online bank transfers.
Get in Touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange a free 15 minute consultation. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07549 145 558 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 48 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.
©2023 Dr. Amanda Hall
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