Pat Capel

The methods I employ with young people are equally effective with all ages and I have used them successfully with clients who are suffering with trauma and PTSD, depression, anxiety, phobias, addictions, stress or performance anxiety and those in need of general coaching skills. I have found the methods very useful when there is conflict within a family, whether it be divorce or simply the stress of growing up. Exam season is becoming more and more stressful for the entire family and I have extensive experience on helping pupils and their families through, in particular, external public exams like GCSE and A Level.

I have been working as a secondary school teacher for over 25 years. I started my career in Cape Town as a school counsellor and since moving to the UK in 2000, gradually shifted to working with those with Special Educational Needs and being a classroom teacher. Over time I became increasingly aware that a growing number of those around me, adults and children alike, were starting to show signs of not having the skills or resources to cope with our demanding world. Anxiety, stress and depression, in particular, were becoming increasingly prevalent. I decided to retrain in the Human Givens methodology which is aimed at being short-term and solution focused counselling. My background in teaching has allowed me to specialise in adolescents and children and their families and I have found teenagers particularly responsive to my particular school of psychotherapy as it relies on imagination and very clear goal setting within a well-structured protocol. I also have a particular interest in delivering mental health and wellbeing training within the school context to pupils, teachers and parents.