Counselling and Psychotherapy

 Counselling and psychotherapy foster insight into intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics, helping you develop greater clarity, confidence, and the skills needed to restore balance in your life and relationships. Individual therapy sessions are tailored to your unique needs and draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to support you in navigating personal and relational challenges.

Psychological and emotional distress are understood within the context of attachment patterns, relational experiences, and trauma history. Therapy provides a safe and reflective space to explore how these experiences have shaped your beliefs, emotional responses, communication styles, and patterns of relating.

The therapeutic process focuses on identifying and addressing unhelpful beliefs, behavioural patterns, and relational dynamics that contribute to recurring cycles of internal distress and interpersonal conflict. Therapy goals are centred on breaking these unhelpful patterns and strengthening both personal and relational capacity—supporting healthier ways of relating and promoting more meaningful, satisfying relationships.

While personal or relational crises can feel overwhelming, with the support of an experienced and trained therapist, these challenges can become opportunities for healing, growth, and lasting change.

Unprocessed memories from painful and traumatic events can continue to have  significant negative impacts on your neurophysiology causing chronic disruptions in sleep quality, emotional regulation and relationships.  

EMDR therapy is an effective and evidence-based psychotherapy endorsed by World Health Organisation, Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and Medicare Australia for treating  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, panic attacks, depression, phobias, insomnia, complex grief reactions, addictions, chronic pain, self-esteem, performance anxiety and relational issues. 

EMDR  therapy explores how the past is driving your present behaviours and perpetuating your negative core beliefs about yourself and the world.  EMDR utilises the natural healing ability of your body and mind to accelerate the resolution of the impact of the adverse life experiences on your current functioning bringing about positive changes in your outlook, emotional health and relationships.

Visit www.emdraa.org  for more information on how EMDR could help with trauma resolution. 

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), developed by Dr Frank Coorigan,  Consultant Psychiatrist based in Scotland, is an evidence-based,  neuroscience-informed and trauma-focused therapeutic approach designed to address shock and attachment trauma by targeting the brain’s earliest threat-response mechanisms which thought to occur at the brainstem level.

DBR goes to the roots of trauma and works with pre-conscious orienting responses and neurophysiological sensations that occur prior to emotional or cognitive processing, supporting resolution of trauma .  A defining feature of DBR therapy is its embodiment of an intrinsic healing process that aligns with the evolutionary development of the brain and nervous system.

Magdalen is a Level 3 DBR practitioner.

More information on DBR can be found on DBR website https://deepbrainreorienting.com/

Neurofeedback therapy—also known as neurotherapy or EEG biofeedback—is an evidence-informed, non-invasive, drug-free approach to neuromodulation for optimal brain regulation and nervous system functioning. It involves training brainwave activites to promote more balanced neural patterns, which can lead to enhanced cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and overall mental health.

Developed in the 1960s, neurofeedback is grounded in the principle of neuroplasticity, recognising the brain’s capacity to adapt and reorganise throughout life. Healthy brainwave functioning is essential for attention, learning, emotional stability, social communication, and resilience. Neurofeedback aims to address patterns of brain dysregulation that may underlie a range of psychological and neurological difficulties. 

Neurofeedback has been used as an intervention for conditions including:

•  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD)
• Autism spectrum conditions
• Anxiety and Depression
• Sleep disorders
• Migraines and headaches
• Acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, strokes
• Age-related cognitive decline. 

Professional bodies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have recognised neurofeedback  as an evidence-supported intervention for ADHD.

During a neurofeedback session, small sensors known as electrodes are placed on the scalp to measure brainwave activity in real time (EEG). When the brain shifts toward more regulated patterns, it receives positive feedback, encouraging healthier states. Over time and with repeated training, the brain learns to sustain these improvements, supporting substained improvements in physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Consistent regular training is important for optimal outcomes. An initial block of 20 sessions, typically conducted at least once per week, is recommended. Following this phase, progress is reviewed to determine whether continued training would be beneficial. 

Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism, as well as complex or longstanding presentations, may require 40–60 sessions to achieve sustained results.

Information on  the Infra Low Frequency Neurofeedback can be found  on EEG institute website http://www.eeginfo.com/what-is-neurofeedback.jsp

 Magdalen began her professional journey in 1992 following completion of her social work training and subsequently undergoing postgraduate training in family therapy (MSc) in the UK in 1995. 

Over the past 30 years, she has gained extensive clinical, management, and teaching experience across diverse health, mental health, educational, and community settings in Singapore, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Her training and expertise include:

• MSc in Family Therapy, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, with research on attachment patterns in adolescents with eating disorders and completed clinical placements at Maudsley Hospital and King's College Hosptial, Lewisham Child Gudiance Clinic
• Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (2006)
• Training in EMDR ( Accredited Practitioner), Internal Family Systems, Schema Therapy, Ego State Therapy, Small Figures Work, Clinical Neurofeedback (Othmer Method, EEG Institute, USA), and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR® Level 3)
   

Magdalen is available for consultancy, training and clinical supervision. She is passionate about mentoring and equipping counselling/psychotherapy interns, social workers, mental health and allied health professionals to enhance their clinical competence  towards safe, ethical, and effective practices.