Daren Messenger, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Daren Messenger

Totnes TQ97PW English
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Daren Messenger, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist

Daren Messenger

Totnes TQ97PW English
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My Approach

I provide psychotherapy services from within a pluralistic framework. This means I can contract as an existential psychotherapist (UKCP registered through Society for Existential Analysis) or I can contract to provide 3rd wave CBT (registered via BABCP as an accredited CBT therapist: my specialism is 3rd wave Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, ACT mindfulness informed CBT). I'm also a qualified MBCT therapist (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapist). All three qualifications are post graduate Masters level qualifications and I can bring these different approaches into each distinct therapy. Some times we re contract because a different approach is more relevant to needs. The work, whatever modality we use, will help you to 'get a handle' on difficult feelings and/or difficult circumstances and to move forward. I now also have training in EMDR.

About Me

Hello, I'm 58 years of age and have been practising as a psychotherapist for over 20 years. I've been through many life changes. I've got three adult children from two separate marriages and have been involved in the care of two step sons. I built a mindfulness based community in Hertfordshire and it was very rewarding! I'm a musician and martial artist but would say that my training in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the 90's- under the guidance of my teacher Akong Rinpoche- has been a big part of my original psychological learning and is a mainstay of my life. These practices have facilitated me towards more acceptance and resilience in the face of sometimes difficult circumstances. I was adopted as a child and much of my ''inner work' has been about cultivating better and safer attachment and working with the developmental trauma associated with ruptures. I would say that this has enabled me to work somatically with early traumas within a relational psychotherapy. My journey has also involved dream work and I still use my dreams to know myself further and in the work of 'learning new ways to move forward' by understanding how the 'past is still present'! My orientation is, primarily, philosophical, relational exploratory therapy but- with my CBT training- the work can also follow a contemporary pragmatic science based - ACT- approach. I have now also trained in EMDR as I believe in continual learning within a broad philosophical outlook. I recognise that different people have different ways of making sense of their needs and, so, require different psychological therapy approaches. I am not integrative per se: I am a pluralist and will contract a therapy with you based upon your needs. I'm a mindfulness teacher and practitioner of 30 years

I work with

  • Companies
  • Individuals
  • Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Personal and Professional experience
I have found that a Mindfulness informed approach is the best way to proceed and work with anxiety (either with relational UKCP based therapy or with CBT). From an existential perspective then 'anxiety is a given' but a mindful approach helps you to learn to 'get a handle' (Gendlin) on anxiety, to cope with it and manage it better and to deal with it's concerns, understanding and developing insight about 'what it's about'. If you decide to approach it 'head on' with a CBT -science based approach- then we will be approaching it using mindfulness with an Exposure methodology.
I genuinely believe that this requires a CBT/Behavioural approach but do this with the skills of a UKCP relationally trained psychotherapist: at your pace, mindfully and with kindness, helping you to understand how OCD prevents you getting on with your life!
I have had lots of experience, personally as well as professionally, of working with Trauma and/or PTSD. This entails an Embodied/Somatic approach either via 'relational therapy (UKCP registration) or with the science based approach of 'CBT for PTSD' or with EMDR
As well as a secular mindfulness teacher I am also a guide within a Western liberal Sufi lineage. I am interested in how spirituality works for people and in guiding people in distinguishing between the actual spiritual experiences they may have had and any associated belief systems that sometimes may help but sometimes may hinder the furthering of their journey and realisation.

Types of Therapies Offered

  • Existential Psychotherapist

What I can help with

  • Abuse
  • Age-related Issues
  • Anger Management
  • Anorexia
  • Anxiety
  • Bereavement
  • Bullying
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Illness
  • Cultural Issues
  • Depression
  • Disability
  • Domestic Violence
  • Eating Disorders
  • Employment Difficulties
  • Gender
  • Health-related Issues
  • Identity Problems
  • Infertility
  • Mental Health Issues
  • Obsessions
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Online Counselling
  • Parents
  • Phobias
  • Physical Abuse
  • Post-Traumatic Stress
  • Private Practice Issues
  • Race Issues
  • Relationships
  • Sex Problems
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexuality
  • Spirituality
  • Stress
  • Supervision
  • Telephone Counselling
  • Terminal Illness
  • Training
  • Transgender
  • Trauma
  • Workplace Counselling

Types of sessions

  • Face to Face - Long Term
  • Face to Face - Short Term
  • Online Therapy

Totnes Office

Bowden House
Totnes TQ97PW

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Cost:

£70 per 50 minute session

HERTFORD Office

The Surgery
77 Ware Road
HERTFORD SG13 7EE
UK

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UKCP College

  • Constructivist and Existential College (CEC)
Daren Messenger

Daren Messenger

Totnes TQ97PW

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