Kevin Taylor-McHale
Psychotherapist
Welcome
I see it as a massive privilege to be invited into the lives of those I meet through this work and because of this, I am always grateful to those I work with for sharing their experiences with me. It is my belief that for any form of therapy to be effective, it is important to work towards building a strong relationship of trust, where people feel safe to speak about the things that are troubling them and to know that the person they are unfolding their troubles to is fully with them. Unfortunately, due to the busyness of peoples’ lives, it is not often that we have the chance to feel fully heard and understood. Therefore, should we find the opportunity to work together, my aim would be for therapy to be your space to feel fully heard and to provide a safe space for you to fully explore the meaning of your experience in life.
Although I work pluralistically, meaning that I am able to draw on a range of approaches to the life challenges faced by those I work with, my underlying philosophy is existential, meaning that there is a key focus on understanding human predicaments in a philosophical way.
Central to the existential approach is a focus on making choices and accepting responsibility for our lives, which may mean examining any inconsistencies and contradictions in the way we think, feel and interact with the world (our way-of-being- in-the-world). Of course, choice and responsibility are subject to the constraints of being human and this links to our understanding of how our sense of control has an impact in our lives. Spending time examining these ideas, amongst others, can help us to become become more effective at working through life’s challenges, develop increased resilience against future adversities, and gain a greater sense of well-being.
Some of the goals of existential therapy are to enable you to:
- Examine your values and beliefs.
- Become more truthful with yourself
- Find clarity on your purpose in life
- Create something valuable and meaningful to live for
- Make sense of the paradoxes, conflicts and dilemmas of your existence.
Training, qualifications and experience:
I am an existential psychotherapist, currently engaged in Doctoral training (DCPsych) as a Psychologist Practitioner, which leads to Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS) as a Chartered Counselling Psychologist.
Current qualifications and memberships:
DCHyp., BSc. (Hons.)., MSc., MBACP, GMBPsS.
Working towards: DCPsych, CPsychol., and registration with HCPC .
Other training and areas of interest:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therory, Integral Eyemovement Therapy (IEMT), Appreciative Inquiry, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance Committment Therapy (ACT), Buddhist Psychology, Indian Philosophy, and Non-duality.
Doctoral Research Interest:
Neurodiversty – Specifically: "The Lived Experience of Fathers of both Autistic and Neurotypical Children".
Practice
Blending elements of psychotherapeutic work, coaching, counselling and/or philosophical consultancy my approach centres around the understanding that the beliefs we have about ourselves only ever have a hold over us when we think that these beliefs are facts.
On one level, when we recognise that our beliefs are simply 'A' truth, as opposed to 'THE' Truth, and we begin to explore how the combination of our thinking, feeling, life circumstances into which we have been thrown, our conditioned responses and our relationships with others that forms how we currently see reality, then our sense of reality starts to change and we begin to experience life differently.
It can sometimes seem difficult to let go of limiting thoughts and beliefs but when we begin to understand how our behaviour and emotions are shaped by our environment and thought processes and we begin to thoroughly examine our long held value and belief systems, then any limiting thoughts and beliefs we are holding on to, will begin to let go of us.
Elements of Change
My focus is around supporting you in making changes in in your life that will create real and noticeable differences for you.
Whether you want to make a specific change or more general widespread changes, we will explore a range of psychotherapeutic skills and understandings, underpinned by both Psychological and Philosophical perspectives, and explore various ways that life can be experienced.
My Promise
During the time we work together, my promise to you is that you will have my undivided attention and we will work together to explore different ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
The outcome of our working together may include such things as, increased confidence; heightened (self-) awareness of your strengths and worldviews (personal values & beliefs); practices and strategies for being a more effective when working through challenges; greater well-being and personal satisfaction; more meaning and purpose in life; and increased resilience against future adversities.
Changes
Anxiety, Depression & Fear
Anxiety, Depression & Fear
Anxiety, Depression & Fear
Support with:
Anxiety | Depression | Fear
When we feel anxious, depressed and fearful it can often seem to us that there is no other way of being and we just don't know which way to turn. Through discussion, we will explore life at an experiential level of being, which will point to ways of embracing life in new and exciting ways.
Issue Specific Changes
Anxiety, Depression & Fear
Anxiety, Depression & Fear
Help with:
Procrastination | Sleeping | Phobias | Habits
My focus when working with you is to support you in becoming the best possible version of yourself and also to work towards an understanding of how we do what we do when it comes to adopting less than useful habits. To do this, we will explore what it means to you to have unhealthy ha
Help with:
Procrastination | Sleeping | Phobias | Habits
My focus when working with you is to support you in becoming the best possible version of yourself and also to work towards an understanding of how we do what we do when it comes to adopting less than useful habits. To do this, we will explore what it means to you to have unhealthy habits and how adopting new, effective and supportive habits, might change how you view life from a sense of health and wellbeing.
Performance
Anxiety, Depression & Fear
Performance
Working with:
Athletes | Singers | Dancers | Actors | Musicians | Artists
Using principles of performance psychology, underpinned by a Philosophical positioning, I work with both children and adults (individually or with groups) to explore ways of being in the world that support optimal human performance.
Supporting
outcomes
Lived Experience
“I have never met someone with the ability to see me and allow me to flourish by guiding me through deep rooted trauma, a very unhealthy relationship with another person, and also with myself. The work I have undertaken with Kevin in a short space of time changed everything for the good. I no longer walk with my head hung low, I walk with pride. I am no longer ashamed of the things I have done or the person I am - I am compassionate of myself and to others. I now know that to be honest and to set boundaries means you can be free of self-doubt and own everything you do in life. I no longer worry about how much space I take up in a room or how people view me. My anxiety has been set free and I am now on a road of discovery and excited about it. I also for the first time feel I trust myself and that has been the biggest breakthrough.
Kevin is a personal trainer of the mind. There is no judgement just compassion and the tools I needed to relook at the way I viewed myself. I would - without any hesitation - recommend Kevin. He is a miracle and I am so glad I went and trusted him to set me on a new path."
L.V. ~ South West England
Lived Experience
“A combination of PTSD, anxiety and depression at the age of 53 resulted in my first period of absence I’ve ever have experienced in my working life. The feeling of being completely lost and being unsure for the first time in your life as to what you are supposed to do hits hard.
I have never knowingly suffered from anything and being ex forces from the 80’s/90’s coupled with an ongoing 20 year’s plus in policing does not lend itself to asking for help easily … sessions with Kevin gave me the initial hope and then continued support to rebuild stronger, possibly than I have been in years. Speaking with Kevin, who has such a profound understanding of the human psyche, gives you the feeling of having a real heavyweight in your corner and provides a massive degree of reassurance.”
J.C. ~ South West England
Lived Experience
“The sessions I have had with Kev have quite literally saved my life. I cannot begin to tell you just how much it has had such a positive impact on the way I view the world and more importantly the way I view myself. I have got my confidence back, my drive, ambition and desire to live a fulfilled life with my wife and dog is greater than it was before. Without the input and wise words from Kev helping me and guiding me to see difficult situations and trauma not as something bad, but as something to learn from and grow has been quite possibly the best thing that has ever happened to me”.
K.B. ~ South West England
Lived Experience
“I just wanted to say thank you for yesterday. I genuinely and honestly appreciate who you are and what you do. It helped me a lot. A bit emotional today but not in a bad way. I think it allowed me to grieve on some level. It’s amazing work you do. I feel like a door has opened to a better world and I’m halfway over the threshold. You are a good man and therapist and it’s great luck I found you :-)"
M.R. ~ South West England
Non-judgement
The wisdom of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
“It is not the responsibility of knights errant to discover whether the afflicted, the enchained and the oppressed whom they encounter on the road are reduced to these circumstances and suffer this distress for their vices, or for their virtues: the knight’s sole responsibility is to succor them as people in need, having eyes only for their sufferings, not for their misdeeds.”
“When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”
~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote
