Work with Adults
Dr. Claire Hayes has over twenty five years experience of providing professional support to adults who wish to improve the quality of their lives. She helps them to understand their stressors (past and present) and to develop practical, effective strategies for change. In helping people cope with a wide range of psychological issues, including anxiety and depression, Claire draws on the various training and experience she has gained to help people:
- Gently look at what is causing them distress
- Explore the meaning of this for them
- Focus on key steps they can take to develop resilience
- Initial Meeting: During an initial appointment which lasts between 80-90 minutes, Claire will help adults she is working with to put current challenges in a context of their life to date, to explore patterns of vulnerability and resilience and to focus specifically on what changes they choose to make to improve their situations. If it is appropriate Claire will use the ‘Coping Triangle’ process (© Hayes). This is based on cognitive behavioural principles and can be very helpful in facilitating people to explore their own feelings, thoughts, beliefs and actions in relation to their concerns as learning ways to help him or her cope. The session concludes with a focus on recommendations and people generally leave with practical suggestions to improve things.
- Second and Third Meetings: These both last for 80-90 minutes and provides an opportunity to review how things have been since the first appointment, to identify key areas of concern and to focus on how cognitive behavioural principles, relaxation and/or visualisation methods may be used to help people build compassion and resilience.
- Further follow-up appointments: These are usually 50-60 minutes in duration, although depending on circumstances may be longer. The content and format of these vary according to what is required.