Out of your mind and
into your life
Face to face and online therapy for those who wish to have better relationships, love who they are, find meaning at uni or work, and feel that life is an adventure.
WELCOME
If you feel overwhelmed by either your emotions, your behaviours or your thoughts, get into fights with your loved ones, feel a sense of isolation and not belonging, are grieving a loss or multiple losses, you have arrived at the right place to start changing things.
You might need only a number of sessions to get yourself back in track, or you might need to commit to months or years of counselling to develop your inner strengths and resources.
As our work progresses, you may start seeing positive changes in your life:
-
Lessening of your symptoms of anxiety or trauma, incl. PTSD;
-
Less time thinking about what you used to ruminate about all the time;
-
Less triggered by your friends’ or your family’s comments;
-
More in control of how you respond to triggers;
-
Experiencing higher levels of empowerment and self-acceptance;
-
Closer and more authentic relationships with your friends and your family;
-
More professional satisfaction;
-
A sense of direction and purpose;
-
Better self-esteem and self-confidence.
ABOUT ME
My name is Maria Alda Gomez Otero, and most people call me Alda. I was born and raised in northern Spain, and I spent most of my adult life living in other countries: France, Portugal, Ireland and since 2014 I have my permanent residence in Devon (UK).
I always loved the exotic sounds of foreign languages, and meeting people who were different to the norm, maybe because I often felt a bit different myself.
I hold a Master’s degree in counselling and psychotherapy obtained in one of the most prestigious counselling and psychotherapy centres in Ireland and I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), an accredited qualified EFT practitioner and an accredited qigong practitioner. I offer therapy sessions in Exeter and Teignmouth.
My background in languages makes it possible for me to work as a therapist in English, Spanish and French.
If you want to know more about me and my qualifications and experience, click the button.
SPECIALISING IN TRAUMA AND ANXIETY
TRAUMA THERAPY
You are not going crazy
Trauma is a part of life. You receive a shock in the past and your body reacts to triggers in the present as if facing the same danger now. The area of the brain that makes sense of things, giving meanings to your reality and remembering things, is inactive during danger, directing all its energy to escaping dangers in order to survive. As a result, you may not recall what happened to you in the past, but you will remember feelings or sensations (shame, fear, a look, a smell). These feelings will come back when you are triggered by anything that may remotely remind you of your trauma. Your brain is trying to protect you from further harm because it doesn’t know that the trauma is over. The feelings belong to your past, but you will feel as if they are real now and you may give them an incorrect interpretation.
Trauma can be resolved
Thoughts like "I am unlovable", behaviours like self-harming, overwhelming emotions that may you feel needy are all symptoms of trauma. As a consequence of your experiences, you have registered these thoughts, behaviours and emotional responses in your brain in order to survive. But you don't need to feel this way forever. We can change our brains. This is called neuroplasticity. Trauma can be resolved. During the trauma therapy sessions, you will have an opportunity not only to learn skills to manage your discomfort, but also to discover your strengths, turning your misery into the fuel for creating a fulfilling and rich life of your making. You can improve your relationships and your self-esteem, enjoying life to its fullest.
Trauma therapy can become an exercise of self-exploration and discovery, helping you to move forward in your life.
HELP FOR ANXIETY
Anxiety is a symptom of trauma
If you are overwhelmed by a sense of doom, panic, irrational fears, uncontrollable thoughts or impulses, you may be experiencing anxiety. Some stress is useful, as it can help us find motivation and combat boredom, but when it is so high that it becomes unbearable, you might need professional help. Anxiety is a symptom of unresolved trauma. Your nervous system is overwhelmed by past stressors, and over-reacts to small triggers.
Therapy can help
I can offer you different techniques that can help you manage your anxiety: mindfulness, EFT or tapping, qigong, but our work does not need to stop there. You can go to the root of the problem and resolve it. I can accompany you during this process. You may need to talk about what is making life difficult at this time, or events that you need to leave behind in your past. You may have to face your fears and discover that there may not be as fearful as you expected. You will start a process of transformation, creating an easiness in life that you didn't believe possible before. This is because you have an opportunity to know yourself better and start looking after yourself better. As a result, you may observe people around you treating you the same way.
EFT FOR TRAUMA
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) or Tapping has been extensively researched as being beneficial in helping to reduce symptoms of PTSD. They can be an effective way of processing unresolved trauma and irrational beliefs. EFT can also be used as a relaxation technique, as it can calm down the amygdala (the part of your brain that "wakes up" your fear mechanism or fight or flight response.
LANGUAGES AVAILABLE
Counselling in English, Spanish and French
