About
Christopher is an experienced psychotherapist who can help you to a consistent, calm and confident state of being. Life can be hard and while we hope that we'll be able to cope if we’re feeling low, anxious or distressed, sometimes coping just isn’t enough. Psychotherapy can help you find structure and stability when things feel chaotic. It can help when it feels like no-one around you understands what it’s like to be you, when the way you feel makes no sense, or if you no longer feel that you're in control. With empathy and gentle curiosity, Christopher uses a combination of verbal and non-verbal techniques to help you into your truest, clearest self. Christopher uses eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and lifespan integration to process the core historical trauma that might be triggering your current symptoms. He works within a relational framework, which synthesises humanistic, psychodynamic, and solution-focused approaches. Together, you'll explore deeply, discover, process trauma and then integrate. Christopher welcomes creative expression where needed or appropriate.
Christopher has been running understanding trauma and art psychotherapy groups, alongside seeing clients for one-to-one psychotherapy, since 2017.
Training
Christopher Westray is a state registered art psychotherapist accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). He has a Masters degree in Art Psychotherapy and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership.
His psychotherapy background is informed by integrative and psychodynamic perspectives. He is a qualified EMDR therapist, lifespan integration therapist (level 3) and has received training in mentalisation-based therapy (MBT). Chris provides training in trauma-informed care, is experienced in forensic psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and arts-based conflict resolution and mediation. He has trained extensively in attachment-based approaches to mental health. He has worked as a psychotherapist within NHS forensic, medium and low secure services and within several third sector mental health organisations. He has also set up and run a thriving private practice, as well as providing psychotherapy to NHS staff in a staff trauma service. Priory to becoming a psychotherapist, he led on several overseas education projects.