The English Therapist Deb Jones

‘The English Therapist’

It’s a name that came to me in the night after researching therapy in the Costa del Sol. I could not obviously see if the therapist spoke English and I think for expats, it’s important to know that we are there to help in their own language. There is no mistaking what I do here! I offer face to face and online therapy and work from my home in Nueva Andalucía.

You began your career as an Integrative Counsellor. Can you explain what that is?

An Integrative Counsellor essentially brings together different theories taught whilst training, to offer a toolkit to the client for different ways of working. I like to work with the client with their experiences and help untangle them but also to explore childhood experiences and relationships that can create patterns and belief systems that sometimes can interfere as we grow older.

You are also a Block Clearance Practitioner.  What is Block Clearance Therapy?

Block Clearance Therapy (BCT) is a unique process, of which I trained in the UK with the Tree of Life Centre, Gloucestershire and work with you and your subconscious mind to get to the root of any issue or ‘block’ that is holding you back in your life. We can gently and safely release these unhelpful patterns. Through careful listening we can identify the ‘root cause’ of the pattern and using visualisation can help subconsciously release it and replace it with a new pattern that allows you to move forward positively.

How is it possible to tap into the unconscious mind?

It is easy to access our subconscious mind, if we feel safe and secure. I take each client on a guided visualisation that relaxes them. They are conscious at all times. It just helps you to feel peaceful, safe and can then access your ‘memory files’ that are stored in your subconscious mind. Because there are no distractions to the mind, then the focus is what you can ‘see’ in your head. We describe it like looking at a cinema screen and describing what you see. Everyone has the ability to ‘see’, we just need to trust that we can. We can help your subconscious to learn to trust again if it is struggling.

Are you finding that more people are turning to therapists such as yourself since the beginning of the pandemic?

Therapy for a lot of people has not been as accessible as it could be during this pandemic. Maybe because of financial restrictions, or simply because people were unable to access public or private therapy because of lockdown. For some people it may feel unsafe to speak to a therapist online whilst family members are around for example. Being ‘forced’ to sit still with our thoughts has brought up a lot of issues that maybe, have been waiting to be addressed but not looked at for lack of time or fear of facing them. For some, they have seized the moment and dived in with therapy to make use of this inactive time and others have been ‘forced’ to look at it as their mental health has deteriorated over the last year. I am noticing though, as people are returning to work and having more freedom, I am getting more enquiries again.

Life away from your home country offers many opportunities but it also can be very challenging. Do you have clients who are finding it difficult to adapt to relocating?

Yes the majority of my work in Spain right now is just that. Moving to a new country, a new culture, navigating the Spanish legal system and the urgency for residency has caused a lot of stress. Moving house is one of the most stressful things we can do and of course moving to a new country increases that stress. I moved to Spain in October last year and can vouch for how stressful the early months were! In the work that I do with my clients, we identify the issues that they are dealing with now and what they bring with them from their home country. It’s all part of the big backpack we carry. By unloading it all slowly can help relieve tension and stress and allow them to see the very brave and rewarding move they have made!

Can you describe your process for working?

I describe in the first session that people come with a jumbled up ball of wool. We grab a strand and follow it until they realise that it has all untangled. I really just listen for the first few sessions, as I get to know the story of the client and understand how they process things. My job is to listen, encourage the client to look a bit deeper and from other angles and to help them understand that their issues stem from a few root causes. When we can see that it all comes from one point we are not overwhelmed by our thoughts and don’t feel quite so lost! After a few sessions I will introduce the concept of BCT and we can then work with the subconscious to heal and repattern the root cause.

You recently made the move yourself from the UK to Spain. If you could give one piece of advice to people relocating, what would it be?

Undoubtedly to find someone to help you with the paperwork and translation in those early weeks. It’s a minefield and as much as you research back in the UK, it doesn’t really make sense until you are here. Someone who knows the system like the back of their hand will make light work of it and take away all the stress. I was lucky enough to find my ‘guardian angel’ from Facebook before I arrived and she reassured me before I had arrived. I have been in very capable hands and every box has been ticked!

What do you love about your work?

Firstly my job as a private counsellor has never felt like a job. I love to help people to come from despair to freedom in a few months. I reassure them that what they come with will be a distant memory when they leave and although it’s sad to end our counselling relationship it’s also the most rewarding feeling to say goodbye. If I’ve helped someone make new choices in their lives, respect and value themselves and achieve things in their lives that they never imagined possible then I have done my work. I have been part of their tapestry and that’s an honour.

Find out more about Moving to Spain

Follow all our latest news and interviews on our Facebook page MumAbroad