Jagadeesan Suyambulingam

Body-oriented and somatic therapies work with the body as well as the mind: breathing, posture, movement and physical sensations. Feelings and experiences often show up in the body, and paying attention to them can help release tension and settle stress. They are often used for stress, anxiety and the after-effects of trauma.

Trauma-focused therapy is a family of approaches designed for the effects of frightening or overwhelming experiences. Usually the work starts with feeling safer and more stable, and only then turns to the memories themselves, at a pace you can manage. It can help with flashbacks, fear, numbness and other after-effects of trauma.

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) sees emotions as important guides that can be understood and changed. It helps you notice, name and work with feelings, including painful ones, so they become less overwhelming. It is also widely used with couples, to understand the emotional cycles between partners and build a closer bond.

Gestalt therapy focuses on what you are experiencing here and now: thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the way you relate to others in the moment. Through conversation and sometimes small experiments, you become more aware of your patterns and can try new ways of responding. It is used for a wide range of personal and relationship difficulties.

Transactional analysis looks at how we communicate and relate, using the idea of three “ego states”: parent, adult and child. It helps you recognise recurring patterns in your relationships and the life scripts behind them. It offers clear, practical ideas for change.