About the Service

PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

I am Dr Samantha Richards and I am a chartered psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) based in Ealing, West London. I am a member of the EMDR Association of UK and Ireland. I have over 10 years’ experience and have worked in various settings including NHS England Mental Health Services. I provide evidence-based therapeutic services, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to adults experiencing life problems and psychological difficulties, such as:

• Trauma & PTSD
• Attachment Issues
• Childhood Trauma
• Depression
• Loss & Grief
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Social Anxiety
• Health Anxiety
• Phobia
• OCD
• Self Critical Thinking
• Low Self-Esteem & Self Confidence
• Perfectionism
• Performance Anxiety
• Relationship Issues
• Stress
• Work related Issues
• and other emotional and behaviour difficulties

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing)

Painful and traumatic events can lead to the development of associated negative symptoms affecting the individual's everyday life. Anxiety, fear, flashbacks, nightmares and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events.

EMDR is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unlike most forms of talk therapy, EMDR focuses less on the traumatic event itself and more on the disturbing emotions and symptoms that result from the experience.

The therapy involves identifying unprocessed traumatic or distressing experiences which continue to drive an individual’s psychological disturbance. The client is asked to recall the worst aspect of the memory together with the accompanying problematic thoughts and associated bodily sensations. Simultaneously the client is directed to move their eyes from side to side, or employ another form of bilateral stimulation (BLS). This desensitises the client to the distressing memory, and more importantly allows them to process it. The associated symptoms become more adaptive and leads to long-lasting relief.

EMDR has also been shown to be effective in helping other areas of difficulty such as, depression, anxiety, phobias, addiction and complicated grief.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behaviour Therapies are a range of talking therapies based on the proposition that our thoughts (cognitions), feelings, behaviour and physiological responses (bodily sensations) are all connected and thus a change in one of these interconnected systems can cause changes in the other systems (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies).

CBT It is a relatively short-term, focused psychotherapy for a wide range of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, anger, fears, phobias, OCD, substance abuse/dependence. CBT aims to aid the development of adaptive cognitions and behaviours by using scientifically verified strategies, and working collaboratively with the client (Branch & Wilson, 2007).

Numerous studies have demonstrated that CBT is as effective as medication for depression, anxiety, obsessions and other fears (Leahy, Holland & McGinn, 2012). CBT is thought to be the most widely researched and empirically supported psychotherapeutic method (Fenn & Byrne, 2013).

The hypothesis underlying CBT proposes long-term improvement in the client’s functioning through modifying underlying dysfunctional beliefs. Importantly, although therapy must adhere to the underlying principles of CBT, it should be tailored to the individual, and be a collaborative process between therapist and client.

Fees

£100 per session

Sessions are attended weekly.

Session fees are invoiced and payable before each session.

I am also registered with Aviva, AXA Health and Vitality.

Assessment & Treatment Planning

If you decide that you would like to contact me an initial enquiry will be made over the telephone or email where we would briefly discuss the problem, any questions you have and availabilities. There will be no charge for this enquiry. Should you choose to proceed, we would then schedule an assessment session. Assessment sessions are designed to discuss your difficulties, goals for treatment, treatment plan as well as provide you with an opportunity to ask further questions about therapy.

Testimonials

"I couldn’t recommend Sam highly enough for anyone who is struggling with issues in their lives, whether past or present. Sam helped me work on deep-rooted issues going back to early childhood that I thought I would carry with me forever. Sam stands out as an amazing therapist as she takes a structured approach. At the start of the process we set out goals so that I was clear on what I wanted to achieve in therapy. After listening empathetically to my life journey, Sam played my timeline back to me and we co-created a bespoke treatment plan. Sam made highly insightful connections between my life events which I was previously unaware of, which helped me gain a deeper insight into my mind, behaviours and thinking patterns. Sam’s approach helps you to review your progress and leads to tangible and sustained improvements to your mental health. Sam is sensitive, empathetic and intuitive in understanding your needs. Therapy can be a challenging journey at times but I always felt totally comfortable and safe with Sam’s guidance. The time I have spent with Sam investing in my mental health has changed my life for the better."Thank you Sam for giving my son his life back and a future to look forward to. This is a short testimonial however is heartfelt and given with true gratitude. Your professional knowledge, compassion and belief helped him through a challenging process."

"I had EMDR for my Phobia - The experience of undergoing therapy is not unpleasant. At no stage I felt nervous, uneasy, or threatened. Sam clearly explains the logic behind the EMDR therapy. The whole thing – the treatment - felt more like a long conversation rather than an arduous process of ‘therapy’."

“As someone who thought they had always been able to 'cope' with life it took me some time to understand that I had become anxious most of the time. It was impacting my life big time. Not being a person who was good at recognising that I needed help it was made easier as someone had told me how good Sam is. Slowly and carefully, Sam helped me get to the root of my issues, let me understand why it was happening and then give me the tools to move forward. There are no wrong or right answers - it is just what works for me. Sam is empathetic yet professional, I know that if I need a one-off session in the future she is happy to accommodate me. I feel stronger again and am more aware of my trigger points.”

“I first contacted Sam when I reached a stage that I felt my anxiety was getting progressively worse and my self-esteem was being very badly affected. I was finding it harder and harder to meet friends because I was constantly judging myself so much and beating myself up for so many things I would say and do. I had spoken to a few therapists over the phone but when I spoke to Sam, I instantly felt at ease. Throughout my journey, I never felt like anything I told Sam was too small/big or too embarrassing. She was always very easy to talk to and very empathetic which made me feel normal. Most of all, she made me feel like she was truly invested in me, never once checking the time or rushing through a session. The results are amazing, and I feel very thankful and lucky to have found Sam. I have a new confidence and I find it so amazing when I find myself reacting to/enjoying situations that I once found very overwhelming. A few friends (some who know and some who don't know I had EMDR) have even commented on how they feel there is a new glow about me. I can't recommend Sam and EMDR enough.”

“I was a bit apprehensive about going to therapy however my work life had become very stressful and I was involved in various traumatic incidents, so I felt I needed to speak to someone. Sam was very easy to talk to; she was warm and open. I could say anything to her and never felt like I was being judged. Sam has taught me so much and I now have a useful tool kit to help me get through any issues I encounter in the future. I learned about my own values and what makes me tick. Sam helped me to figure out what these things were and how I could adapt, shift and manage my thoughts, values and emotions. I originally went to therapy to help me with issues going on in the workplace, but I am walking away with a skill set which I will use in all aspects of my life.”

This was my first experience with therapy, and I couldn’t have asked for a better therapist. Sam was great; so supportive, understanding and patient. I immediately felt safe with her, enabling me to build trust so quickly. Having gone through a traumatic experience, I don’t think I would be where I am today without her help. She helped me to understand why I was feeling the way I did, provided me with strategies to cope throughout the week when I was not with her, and helped me to process the event at my own pace. Although I am glad to have come out the other side, it is definitely bittersweet, as I’ll miss seeing Sam on a weekly basis. I cannot recommend Sam enough!

"I have been working with Sam over the last 5 months to help me manage an episode of acute anxiety and depression. Having had therapy previously for anxiety and depression, Sam approached this differently to my previous experiences, with a clear aim of teaching me the tools and strategies I need to help manage these symptoms should they develop again. It's impossible to avoid anxiety in life so I found this invaluable and feel so much more confident to be able to cope with whatever life throws at me. I learnt a lot about who I am as well which helped me understand my behaviours and beliefs and what needed to be challenged. Sam was incredibly empathetic and supportive, but was also firm when she needed to be (I was very demanding in the early sessions with a need to be fixed by Sam) and with clear boundaries of her role, which definitely helped my recovery. There were tears but also a lot of laughter together. I hope not to need to see Sam again in the future for more therapy, but I know the door is open if I do. I miss our sessions!"

"I got in touch with Sam after experiencing a series of particularly traumatic life events. My self-esteem was low, I was suffering from anxiety and depression and found it extremely difficult to talk about recent events. Sam was amazing! She made me feel safe, supported, and most importantly, human. She was flexible in her approach and tailored the sessions dependant on what I was comfortable with, whilst providing an appropriate level of challenge and steer where needed. We tackled EMDR, which was a new concept to me and something I now rave about to anyone who will listen. Sam also helped me with CBT as well as building up a toolkit of resources that I can draw on in the future. I don’t know how I would have got through the last 12 months without her – thank you!"