Meet Christina
I discovered the Human Givens approach as I searched for help to heal from the trauma I experienced as a young parent during my pregnancy, birth and in the early years as a lone parent.I battled with the depression and anxiety that resulted from this trauma for many years.
The HG approach enabled me to finally heal from this and gifted me the confidence and self belief to move forward with my life.
I finally felt free and able to reconnect with feelings of joy and hope to move forward in life. My capacity and understanding of how to support as a parent grew and deepened.
Alongside this healing I found the framework and understanding of our emotional needs and resources upon which the teachings of HG were based so impactful, insightful and life changing that I knew I had to dedicate my life to helping as many new and expectant parents as possible experience this gift for themselves.
I realised the huge impact working with Human Givens therapy and introducing the Human Givens framework of emotional needs and resources could have on the lives of new and expectant parents It would equip them with a deep understanding of how both they and their children can meet their emotional needs to live both mentally and physically healthy lives moving forward.
How the Human Givens framework can help us as new and expectant parent
HG therapy helps us to build resilience, manage stress, gain coping skills, heal from trauma and feel more in control over our emotions. We are able to move towards a more balanced way of living.
It is my aim that all parents have access to this effective, practical and evidence based approach so that they can find healing, gain understanding and insights into how to maintain their own mental wellbeing so that they have the spare emotional capacity needed to meet the emotional needs of their babies children- thus ensuring our precious children grow up happy and healthy- equipped with the tools to lead a fulfilling, contented life.
My experience
I am a warm and compassionate qualified Human Givens psychotherapist and counsellor and have worked alongside parents, children and families in a number of social care settings including family centres, schools, nurseries and afterschool clubs, pupil referral units, mentoring services for at risk young people, children’s homes, and secure units.
My passion for supporting new and expectant parents led me to train first as a birth and postnatal doula and then as a hypnobirthing teacher, a Gentle Birth Teacher, a Holistic Sleep Consultant, Baby Massage teacher, Baby Brains Teacher and Mindfulness Breast feeding coach and many more as I saw the impact that knowledge and psycho education alongside care and compassion could have on how the pregnancies, birth and early experiences of mothers, fathers and birthing people unfolded.
It has been both a joy and priviledge to be alongside new and expectant parents at this life changing time in their lives.
Memberships
HGI – Human Givens Institute- HGI
ETSI – European Therapy Studies Institute
British Psychological Society BPS
AIMS- Improvement of maternity Services
KG Hypnobirthing Association
AIMH(Association of Infant Mental Health)
Why work with me ?
My training in both the file of maternal mental health provision alongside my knowledge and experience of supporting parents and expectant parents in pregnancy, at births and in the postpartum period provides me with a unique set of skills. I am able to blend and tailor my skills, knowledge, alongside my practical hands on experience to provide bespoke support that is tailored to your unique needs as a new parent or parent to be.
I am passionate about supporting you to alleviate distress, heal from trauma and to find ways to balance your emotional and physical needs to help you feel back in charge of your life quickly.
By using the Human Givens therapy tools alongside my professional experience in the field of antenatal, birth and postnatal care- we will work together to find a clear way forward – to a more balanced way of living.
You will be treated with kindness and compassion.
I look forward to welcoming you to my private practice in North London or working with you online.
Qualifications
Human Givens Psychotherapist MHDI HG Dip P
BSC(Hons)Psychology (2:1 Bristol university) including Child Development
MSC Health Psychology (Surrey University) – Maintaining Health Through the Lifespan, Qualitative research Methods, Advanced Research Methods and Design, Chronic Conditions, Psychological Aspects of Healthcare
Certificate in Counselling – Department of professional studies at University of Oxford
Prison Service Forensic Psychology– Criminological Psychology and Penology, Clinical Psychology, Training the Trainer, Organisational Psychology, Consulting and Associated professional Skills
Certificate in Solution Focused Therapy – Solution focused therapy institute London
Compassionate Eriksonian Hypnotherapist– (in training) British Hypnosis Research Training Institute
Eriksonian and Solution Oriented Hypnosis – Bill O’Hanlon (in training)
Resilient Minds – explaining context and Best Practices for Enhancing Emotional Regulation (In Training)
Your Resonant Self – Sarah Peyton (In training)
Certificate Programme in Women’s Trauma : EMDR, IFS, EFIT,Polyvagal Strategies for Empowering Survivors PESI- ( In training)
ADHD Clinical Services Provider -(ADHD-CCSP) Certification Course : Strength -based Intervention to Thrive with ADHD from childhood to Adulthood (In Training)
Qualifications / Training
- How to make counselling effective
- Effective Brief Psychotherapy
- From Stress to Psychosis
- How to prevent Mental Illness
- Understanding anxiety and managing it without drugs
- How to break the cycle of depression
- Treating Addictions: understanding and treating all types of addictive behaviours
- Effective Anger Management
- Ethics for the caring professions
- The therapeutic power of language
- Guided imagery and visualisation for therapeutic change
- The Rewind Technique: Effective treatment for Trauma (PTSD) and phobia
- Guided Imagery 2- 3 essential techniques
- How to lift depression- the practical skills you need
- How to tell stories that heal
- How to control Chronic Anxiety
- Stopping Addictions : effective treatment and recovery
- Overcoming Self Harm
- Dealing with Conflict
- Mind Body Connections
- Effective Pain Management
- Trauma Patterns of the Past
- How to help children Thrive
- How to create healing stories for children
- Couples therapy
- How to reduce suicide risk
- How to work effectively with troubled teens
- How to treat OCD
- Couples therapy- is narcissm the problem ?
- Developing self compassion
- Affect Bridge
- Online and phone therapy training
- Couples Therapy Neurodiversity and relationships
- Guided Imagery Day 2
- Grief and Bereavement
- How to reduce anxiety in students and young people
- A closer look at our innate resources
- How to help young people who self harm
- Why do we dream ?
- Daydreaming, and Creativity
- Exploring Conciousness
- How to support teenagers through the stress of starting university
- Online and Phone therapy best practice
- The use and abuse of Hypnosis
- The Missing Links- affect bridge, molar memories and sub threshold trauma
- Building Resilience to Stress
Birth and Babycare Qualifications
- MBA – Breast / Bottlefeeding and Weaning
- MBA – General Newborn Care
- MBA – Routine in New Born and Sleep Training in babies
- MNT – Sleep Training
- MNT – Postnatal Depression
- MNT – Care of Multiples
- Birth and Postnatal Doula Qualification- Middlesex University
- Baby Massage Teacher- Hands On Babies recognised by NCM
- Baby Yoga Teacher – Hands on Babies recognised by NCM
- Qualified Hypnobirthing Teacher- Katherine Graves
- Sleep Angel- Trained by Jo Tatum
- Foundations of Parenting- Lynne Murphy of the Active Birth Centre
- Birth Trauma- Rosie Goode
- Introduction to Piklar Parenting- HATA
- Rebozzo Workshop
- Aromatherapy for childbirth- recognised by NCM
- Babies in Mind- Warwick University 2016
- Care of the postpartum mother- Nicola Goode
- Healing Your Birth Story study day- Rachel Weber
- New Born Behavioural Observation Practitoner- Brazelton Centre 2018
- Antenatal teacher Training Study Day- Kicki Hansard
- Paramanadoula Course with Michel Odent 2017
- Baby Bonding Practitioner- Debi Maskell Graham
- Toddler Bonding Practitioner- Debi Maskell Graham
- Visualisation and Creative healing- Dr Gowri Motha 2017
- Holistic Sleep Coach- BabyEm
- In at the deep end – early issues for parents- Royal College of Medicine 2018
- Child Nutrition Study Day-Feeding Babies and Toddlers Judy Moore
- Mindfulness Breastfeeding Practitoner- Anna le Grange
- Active Birth Study Day
- Gathering in The Knowledge Dr Sarah Wickham
- Bring relief with Your Debrief- Traumatic Birth Recovery
- The Foundation of Infant Loss
- Babybrains Practitioner Training
- The Foundation of Infant Loss – Study Day in Supporting Bereaved Parents