MARTIN LEACH

A BIT ABOUT ME

 I am a qualified counsellor/therapist and a registered mental health nurse with over 30 years' experience of working in mental health with a wide range of issues. Since 2015 I have been working in the prison system and it is here that I began to work therapeutically with people who had experienced trauma many of whom have been told they have a personality disorder. I developed a keen interest in trauma and traumatology and went on to undertake specialist training in this field. I work in both the criminal justice system and private practice as a trauma therapist. I have a specific interest in working with:​

• trauma

• PTSD and Complex-PTSD

• personality disorder

• clients with complex needs

In my experience many people who have been told they have a personality disorder (especially borderline personality disorder) or have complex needs experienced trauma in early life.

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I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), The Society for Existential Analysis (SEA) and The EMDR Association of the UK & Ireland.

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"You are not a victim for sharing your story, you are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage" - Alex Eile

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A BIT ABOUT MY APPROACH TO THERAPY

My initial training in counselling was as a humanistic-integrative therapist,  and I have undertaken further training in existential therapy. In addition I have specialist training in trauma-focused counselling. My current approach is a trauma-focused, integrative therapist. 

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As an integrative therapist I will use the way of working that is right for you at any specific time. I integrate a variety of mainstream psychotherapy practices within an overarching trauma-informed framework (click the button below for more information). I take the view that there is no single approach that can help each client in all situations. people need to been seen as a whole and counselling approaches need to be adapted to their individual needs and situation. At times, you might need someone to listen and just let you tell your story. At other times, you might need someone to be more directive and give you practical skills to help you navigate life and work with your emotions and thoughts. At another point, you might need someone to challenge your own view of life and help you find a better way of being and existing in the world.

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Trauma therapy helps people overcome psychological trauma. A traumatic event is defined as one in which you perceive a threat to your life, bodily integrity, or sanity. The other component of the definition is your reaction to the event or situation.  Trauma occurs when your ability to handle the event is comprised.

Trauma therapy is not one specific type of treatment, a variety of therapies can be used alone or in conjunction with one another to help you deal with the trauma and move on with your life.

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During my many years as a mental health professional and therapist I have worked with a variety of different approaches to bringing awareness and freedom from deeply embedded ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Whilst we usually adopted these patterns as part of our upbringing, often they were a result of trauma. These historical patterns have probably been with us for most of our lives and whilst they may have been useful earlier in our lives their functions are less useful and are perhaps harmful as we mature. Trauma in later in life can dramatically affect how we see ourselves and the world.  Trauma-focused therapy changes the question from 'What is wrong with you?' to 'What has happened to you?'.

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For more detailed information on how I work click the button