I was referred to Colin in 2023 after I suffered a mental health breakdown. It was a scary time and I felt that I was losing everything, my friends, my family, my partner and my mind. I was sceptical of seeing a therapist as I haven't had positive experiences with them in the past and just felt like no one would be able to help me or understand what I was going through. After 1 session with Colin, I immediately knew he was different and he would do his best to help me...I felt in safe hands.
Colin had a way of explaining things that helped me understand what was happening to me, instead of using lots of long complicated terms he simplified things. This was so important to me due to my fragile mental health and poor memory as it helped me remember what he was saying and I could then explain it to my loved ones who were worried about me.
I began to realise that it wasn't an overnight fix and it would take time and hard work but after a few sessions I was already feeling the difference. I remember one moment in a session when I had my eyes closed and Colin commented on me being tense, I managed to focus and relax and for a brief moment I felt weightless...it sounds odd but it was at that moment that I knew I could be helped. Just having those few seconds of clarity and ease of thought was so powerful and emotional. I wanted to cling to that feeling and it gave me the urge to keep working and to trust in what Colin was doing.
As of today I am now going to the gym, eating better and most importantly I can now sleep. I have reconnected with my Mum and also formed a closer bond with my Partner. Colin has given me the tools to help me deal with my mental health. I know I am not cured but I know that I am now stronger and better equipped to deal with any future mental health issues that come my way.
In short, thank you, Colin,
I visited Colin Howard practice on 3 occasions and I have to say I felt very apprehensive at first. Colin made me feel at ease from the word go.
I have seen many consultants over a 5 year period but felt very at ease with Colin. He listened intently, empathised, and advised all through my sessions. Something that had lacked through previous experiences with others. Colin had a very calming approach and I felt in safe hands throughout.
I never thought I would feel the way I do now. After just 3 sessions and the way Colin explained things I began to realise that I could face my problems and discovered by listening to the advice given by Colin that things could improve and did so for me in dramatic fashion. I am not cured by a long way, but I feel by attending the sessions has enabled me to come to terms and made me a more confident individual than when I started. A massive thank you to Colin and his team for their kind approach and fantastic aftercare.
I was initially referred to Colin via my employer when the quality of my work began to suffer. I was exhibiting signs of Post-Traumatic Stress which included, nightmares, flashbacks and hyper-vigilance. I had a very low threshold to fight or flight and was angry a lot of the time at minor things, and that anger was sometimes directed at my colleagues.
I was initially sceptical of EMDR and sure it wouldn’t work for me, but here I am, and I feel better than I have in years. I can honestly say that I can attribute the fact that I am still in my chosen career because of Colin Howard.
Colin began to address my issues in a sensitive and calm manner, helping me to understand where my troubles stemmed from. He explained things in a way that was free from jargon and used language that enabled me to visualise my mental health in my mind. This worked brilliantly for me and was proceeding really well, but I was still facing the issues at work.
In March 2020, I had a crisis at work and had to take an extended period of sickness. Coupled with the outbreak of COVID-19, this was a very difficult time for me, but Colin continued my sessions over Zoom so I could continue to heal and build the mechanisms that helped me to move forward.
In late 2022, I had a lapse which necessitated more time off work and I was referred back to Colin. He allowed me to see that lapse was not a failure on my part and he refreshed my mental health ‘toolkit’ so that I could again become proactive in my self-care.
Thanks to Colin, I now sleep better, feel happier and have not found myself reliving traumas. Most importantly, I can now see a bright future ahead. I can safely say that if you find yourself needing help with your mental health, I would wholeheartedly recommend Howard Psychology.
I went to see Colin after avoiding addressing my anxiety and mood swings and claustrophobia for literally years. I am a serving police officer and along with a diagnosed medical condition I was facing a mountain of accumulated trauma from over two decades of public service. I had previously pulled out of therapy years ago after one session.
Colin takes note of the little things, meeting you in reception, being flexible with session length and putting clients first. He is kind and engaging and someone who I respect and admire a great deal. The progress in subtle but consistent. I moved from thinking I was going mad and feeling suicidal to a position now where I finally feel myself again.
Most importantly I can cope with the ups and down without issue. I cannot thank Colin enough for the help he provided my family. If you are not sure if this is for you I genuinely believe the first time you meet Colin you will feel in safe hands.
[Update from 10-year old child's mother] Would you pass onto Colin that last week during half term, he managed to have a day at a football camp followed by a sleep over with one of his best friends from his last school. The fact he even managed the day at a new camp with very little worry was fabulous to see. Sleeping over was a massive step for him and he took it in his stride (or at least he pretended he did), he was incredibly proud of himself and buzzing.
[10-year old child] I don’t feel scared to be away from my mum and dad anymore. I can play football and go to school without feeling scared and I don’t feel frightened all the time of panic attacks anymore.
[Mother of 10-year old child] My son has always been a confident, sporty boy who loved the outdoors. Panic attacks began to creep in and eventually snowballed into him being petrified to leave the house or to be left in a room without me in case the panic started. His anxiety was consuming him. We had tried lots of CBT and school were incredibly supportive but he had stopped doing the things he loved without constant fear, playing for his football team, staying at friends houses, visiting his cousins and lots more. When a friend suggested we see Colin, my son was sceptical that anything would ever make him better.
It was clear after the first session that my son's mindset had changed. Colin gave him the confidence to believe he would get better. He looked forward to sessions with Colin and after each one there was a noticeable difference to his levels of anxiety. We simply cannot thank Colin enough for how far we have come since last year. The confident, sociable child is back and he knows that if things change again and the panic and anxiety return that he can get better.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you again for always being there for me with your special blend of kindness, empathy and encouragement.
Colin is such a lovely person and is incredible to work with, he saved me when I was frozen in existence following trauma. I had a heightened level of anxiety and felt unsafe to be alone, scared of myself, due to my situation. Scared of anyone male and new, places and life. But I’m so glad I worked with him, rather than a woman therapist or anyone else, he was the right person to help me at the right time.
He reassured me, in a safe environment. Helped me to move forward, manage situations, giving me techniques to help me to help myself along my journey from trauma to recovery. When I wasn’t strong enough we found a way forward and I learnt how to be with my feelings that came out of no where.
I’m 7 months on from when I started working with him and my life is so different now. I am a completely different person back working. With his amazing help, I am living a full life again, happy and forward thinking. I feel so much stronger and if I ever experience a difficult day, I remember his guidance and it keeps me moving forward.
If you are trying to decide whether he is the right person to help you. Everyone needs a Colin at some point in their life, he helped me recover, find life and myself again and I will always be eternally grateful! I would work with him again if I needed to and highly recommend him.
It is with tears of pure gratitude, that I write to you with no words that are adequate to express our sincere appreciation for your hard and timeless devotion and work to heal my daughter. After twenty years of different types of therapy, feeling lost, like I couldn’t really settle, feeling like two separate people but not really being able to understand why, having relationship difficulties and an eating disorder that I could never really get under control, I was recommended to Colin by a friend. If you are a veteran reading this because you are researching something for yourself but don’t know who, or what, to reach out to, you are in the right place! |
I got in touch with Colin summer 2020 when I was having a really hard time understanding my thoughts and feelings. I started taking antidepressants in the winter of 2020 which was helpful, but then COVID hit and things just seemed to spiral out of control from there. I made contact with Colin when I felt quite desperate. It is difficult to describe the depths of despair I was experiencing, I began to think it would be better to be dead than go on in the state I was in. I rang Colin in this state of desperation, I did not know where to turn. I started working with Colin in February 2014 and I was a wreck, I was always stressed, had anxiety as well as depression. I was fearful every day and could either be as high as a kite or couldn't get out of bed. Through working with Colin over the last 5 months I have completely returned to the bubbly, happy person I was many years ago. I was involved in a potentially life threatening accident which left me very anxious and depressed. This put a tremendous strain on my marriage and relationship with my family. I was diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I was referred to a psychologist called Colin Howard, and I received a treatment called EMDR. The treatment has had a positive outcome for me and my family. I was treated with dignity and respect, Colin is a true gentleman, and is a true expert in his field. |
I am a 53 years old and since the age of 3 or 4 experienced one trauma after the other including sexual abuse, neglect and was orphaned by age of 13. Life has always been an uphill struggle and the feelings of self loathing and failure have continued throughout my whole life. Failed marriages, bankruptcy self imposed ill health both physical and mental. I’d seen therapists and counsellors many times. They tried to help and were good and kind but somehow nothing changed for me. I was often described as aggressive and obstructive....I’m neither. I was diagnosed with complex Post traumatic stress disorder, given antidepressants and left to get on with ruining my life.
Finally, I was introduced to Colin Howard in spring 2018. I was dubious for a while because I didn’t really understand the concept of EMDR. He explained it all to with patience and in simple terms and put me at my ease. I felt complete trust and confidence in Colin from the start.
Our sessions were often gruellingly difficult and exhausting , and at times I felt like a wrung out dish cloth! The next session would be lots of laughter and fun, but which ever way it went I always felt it was worthwhile and that something positive was being accomplished .
It’s been a good few months since I last saw Colin but this morning, out of the blue I had an experience which at one time would have sent me into an absolute meltdown and ruined the whole day. Instead, I chuckled at a memory that Colin and I had created during a session! It felt fantastic to know that I’m now in control of my emotions. I understand them. And I can live with them.
I encourage anyone seeking help with trauma to see Colin Howard. I will always be grateful to him.
