Paul Grimmer Psychotherapy

My therapy approach

I am a BABCP fully accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (CBT) and HCPC registered Occupational Therapist (OT). I am also working towards accreditation as an EMDR Practitioner and have extensive advanced level training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). My approach integrates elements of these therapies to create a bespoke intervention that is responsive to your needs and choices.

My specialist area of practice

I specialise in working with people who have experienced trauma and adversity of some kind in the recent or distant past. I have a particular interest and passion for working with adult survivors of developmental or attachment injuries in childhood such as abuse, neglect, abandonment and loss.

Trauma affects us at a deep neurobiological (mind-body) level, largely outside of our conscious awareness. The legacy of these experiences leaves us on high alert, easily triggered into feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, shame, numbness and depression. Or on a rollercoaster of emotional or nervous system dysregulation, swinging between highs and lows.

What will therapy be like?

Therapy can feel daunting and confusing at first. We will begin by exploring together what brings you to therapy and creating a shared understanding of your unique life story. From here, we can begin to make connections between your history and your present difficulties, whatever they may be. My role is to empower you, offering choices and working together to plan the direction we take in therapy.

I respect and admire the courage it takes be vulnerable with another human being and I feel honoured when someone chooses to share their story with me. I have taken this step myself a number of times in my life and know what a difficult decision it can be to reach out for support. If you choose to take this step, I look forward to meeting you.

My professional background

I trained originally as a fine artist and my journey to become a therapist began as a volunteer, supporting survivors of trauma through expressive arts. As a qualified therapist, I have worked in a range of NHS roles including the veterans complex treatment service, primary care psychotherapy and forensic services. Most recently, I have worked as a Senior Psychological Therapist in a specialist trauma informed team providing consultation, support and training to teams supporting young people in the care of the local authority.

What I can offer

Therapy

I offer one-to-one therapy to adults over 18 years of age. I offer targeted short term or longer term intervention depending on your goals and needs.

I provide face-to-face therapy from comfortable clinic spaces in Gosforth in Newcastle upon Tyne. I also provide remote therapy appointments over Zoom offering you the opportunity to engage in therapy from the safety and security of your own home.

Payment for sessions is by bank transfer and required before the session to confirm booking. I operate a 48 hour cancellation policy, any sessions cancelled within 48 hours of the time of the appointment will be charged at full session rate.

If you feel that you are in immediate danger, experiencing a mental health crisis or are unable to keep yourself safe from harm please contact the police or your local Crisis Team for support.

Therapy pricing

Sessions are priced at:

£100 for a 50 minute session

£140 per 90 minute session

longer sessions are recommended whilst processing certain traumatic experiences using EMDR. They may also be considered at the early stages of therapy during assessment with agreement

Therapy is an investment in your wellbeing and I am open to discussing cost. I offer a sliding scale and reduced rates for single parents, low income, unwaged, students and public sector workers. Please reach out if you wish to discuss this.

Supervision

I offer one-to-one supervision to qualified psychotherapists, psychologists and other professionals working with individuals who have experienced trauma or adversity of some kind. My hope is to offer a safe space for open exploration of relational processes within therapeutic work (client, therapist, supervisor/self, others, world) with an embodied awareness and sensitivity to the values of trauma informed care.

My supervisory approach is curious, compassionate and creative and prioritises safety and connection. We can work together to support and develop compassion focused, attachment and trauma sensitive awareness and skills. These approaches prioritise embodied ways of being with the client in response to their fundamental needs for safety and connection.

Throughout my career, I have supervised a range of professionals including Psychotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers. In my role as a Senior Therapist I also provide consultation, formulation and training in the field of trauma and attachment.

Payment for sessions is by bank transfer and required before the session to confirm booking. I operate a 48 hour cancellation policy for supervision sessions, any sessions cancelled within 48 hours of the time of the appointment will be charged at full rate.

Reasons you may choose to work with me as a supervisor

You may have noticed that your client group requires a compassion focused, trauma and attachment sensitive approach
You may want to develop your skills as a compassion focused, attachment and trauma sensitive practitioner or therapist
You may be a therapist or practitioner who is also a survivor of trauma and adversity and recognise the need within yourself for supervision that is sensitive and responsive to this

Supervision pricing

Sessions are priced at:

£80 for a 1 hour one-to-one supervision session

I welcome any questions you might have about supervision - please connect below

Accreditation and membership

BABCP fully accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (Teesside University)
Member of EMDR UK currently working toward practitioner accreditation
BSc (hons) Occupational Therapy (Northumbria University)
Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist
Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)

Training

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Supervision Training (3-part training with Compassionate Mind Foundation - due to complete July 2024) with Wendy Wood, Paul Gilbert, Kate Lucre
EMDR Europe Association approved Foundation Level training in EMDR with ENDR Masterclass
Attachment Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) with Laurel Parnell
CFT training pathway with the Compassionate Mind Foundation including advanced level training with Paul Gilbert
Level 1 Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) with the DDP Network
A Year of Polyvagal with Deb Dana
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training

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EMDR

Polyvagal Theory

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

Process memories of traumatic experiences and repair early developmental and attachment wounds. Allow your mind and body to heal themselves with the opportunity to revisit difficult experiences from a place of present moment safety and compassion.

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CFT

Polyvagal Theory

EMDR

Compassion Focused Therapy

Explore and develop compassionate ways of relating to parts of yourself and improve relationships with others. Develop empathy, sensitivity and warmth as ways to soothe threat based responses such as shame, self criticism, anxiety, anger and sadness

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Polyvagal Theory

Mindfulness and Breath Work

PVT

Explore how our neurobiology (mind-body connection) and chronic nervous system dysregulation can affect us at a deep unconscious level changing the narratives we create about ourselves. Learn how increasing awareness of our nervous system 'state' can help to improve regulation and bring us to a feeling of safety and connection.

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Mindfulness and Breath Work

Cultivate present moment awareness to improve self regulation, curiosity, acceptance, reduce stress and feel more connected to a sense of safety. Develop key skills in mindfulness meditation, breath practice and movement that can be used as resources to support you through emotional pain and distress.

Visit The Free Mindfulness Project for free guided meditation practices

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DDP

Mindfulness and Breath Work

DDP

Dyadic Developmental Practice

Build awareness of how your own early attachment patterns continue to impact on your relationships in the present. Learn ways to cultivate better connections within the context of family relationships based on playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy. Particularly, those relationships with the children and young people you parent or care for.

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CBT

Mindfulness and Breath Work

DDP

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Explore how deeply held core beliefs about yourself, the world and others and rules that you unconsciously follow can impact upon your emotional world in the present.. Explore ways to bring compassionate awareness to vicious cycles of thinking feeling and behaving and re write narratives that keep you stuck in states of distress.

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