I originally trained in Client-Centred therapy as a Play Therapist 19 years ago, I then spent 6 years working as a mental health worker in the NHS. Now-a-days I have a private practice where I work with clients of all ages, using IFS, sandtray work, metaphor, the imaginal, somatic techniques and breathwork.
My approach is integrative and transpersonal, bringing in the body, heart, mind, soul and whatever is ‘bigger than us’ (whatever your version of this is). This way of working takes us into the right hemisphere of the brain where the less conscious material is held (the trauma as well as aspects of our True Nature that we have exiled from our awareness) it therefore opens up realms of our inner work that might otherwise go untapped. Over the years I have become disheartened at what traditional talk therapy has to offer, and this has motivated me to explore less conventional healing therapies….
In 2020 I completed the IFS Level One training (over 100 hours of training) and Level two in 2022 and have been using IFS in my work with adults, children, teens and parents since this time.
In 2023 I trained in Conscious Connected Breathwork (400 hours) and in 2024 I completed a further breathwork course of 150 hours and am now able to offer breathwork online. Breathwork is an incredible tool which taps us into the natural healing capacity of the body, helps bring difficult emotions to the surface and connects us with the transpersonal- it is a beautiful and effective healing practice. I offer regular breathwork classes and retreats, as well as 1:1 sessions, using IFS to integrate the material that comes up in the breathwork sessions. This is a very effective way to process difficult emotions and trauma. It is also a good way to explore working therapeutically with altered states of consciousness and can also support clients to integrate plant medicine journeys.
In 2023 I completed a 3 month training on Somatic Therapy, with the likes of Gabor Mate, Janina Fisher and Deb Dana. Trauma is held in the body, therefore if we bring sensation, impulses etc into therapy we can affect far more change, growth and healing.
In 2024 I am embarking on a training to become an Inner Dance facilitator, another way of working with the unconscious, so watch this space! Since working with breathwork I have been blown away by how effective working therapeutically with altered states of consciousness is, and am keen to learn new therapy techniques that harness this.
For the last 19 years I have been a spiritual practitioner. My spiritual journey began with Insight Meditation, before taking me to Tibetan Buddhism and from here I found my way to the teachings of A.H. Almaas and the Ridhwan School. I have been a student of the Ridhwan school for 8 years now; this greatly enhances my experiences and understanding of what IFS calls Self and gives a strong transpersonal component to the way I work.
Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to discuss things further.
Chrissie is member of the BACP, she is an Integrative and Transpersonal therapist, a qualified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist and Breathwork Facilitator. Sessions are held at a beautiful space just outside Buckfastleigh, Devon or online. She can be contacted on 07840 069075 or creativetherapysouthdevon@gmail.com