Gregory Salvesen

I was born and raised in Africa, but since my late twenties, I have lived in several countries around the world. I believe these experiences have given me an understanding of cultural differences and an appreciation for how unique each of us is. I have had many different career changes in my life until I discovered psychology in my early thirties.

I have learnt that life is never a straight line, and every experience is valuable regardless of where we end up. In my work as a therapist, I have learnt that every individual has the capacity to change their circumstances or their pathway in life. That the past can sometime prevent us from enjoying the future, and how important it is to make peace with the past no matter how painful it is. Our past only dictates our futures if we allow it. I have also learnt that change doesn’t just happen if we give it enough time, it requires action on our part.

I absolutely love working with people who are courageous enough to face their challenges and willing to work with me to find solutions to these challenges. I also understand all of this can be scary, but I’m here to help.

One of my core personal values is honesty, that means being honest with ourselves about our strengths and our vulnerabilities and learning to accept who we are, ‘warts and all’. The reason this is important to me, is like all of you, I have struggled with the confusion of adolescence. I have anguished about who I am, where I fit in the world, and what my purpose in life might be. I have wrestled with professional and personal relationship challenges. I have also dealt with grief and loss, along with many other traumatising experiences. Being honest with myself and accepting who I am was they only pathway to success and emotional freedom. My studies and the work I have done with my clients has also allowed me a unique opportunity to develop many practical tools and simple techniques to overcome the challenges we all face in life. I want to share these tools with you, for you to be able to live full and meaningful lives.

My core skills include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which helps people learn new skills and strategies as well as tweaks the ones they have already have. These skills help challenge some of the problematic thoughts and beliefs we may have about ourselves and the world we live in. I often utilise a strategy called Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help people overcome their resistance to change and lack of motivation. I offer relationship counselling, utilising Gottman techniques to improve communication and conflict resolution skills. I also have a special interest in trauma counselling through Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), as these past traumas can all too often become triggers in the present, resulting in psychopathologies like PTSD, addiction, depression and anxiety. My other skills include Mindfulness, Meditation and other grounding techniques to promote relaxation and quieten the mind, which is especially helpful if you’re having sleep difficulties.

My hope is to help my clients get to a point where they have enough skills to overcome their challenges so they can confidently lead a life full of meaning and purpose.

Age Groups:

• Adolescents
• Adults
• Families

Treatment Modalities

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Mindfulness

 

• Depression & Mood Disorders • Anxiety & Stress Disorders • Relationship and Couples Counselling • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Family and Parenting • Behavioural Issues • Suicidal Ideation • Trauma and PTSD