History
My name is Bree Morrison. I originally trained in the USA, where I earned a Masters in Social Work and was a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). Running rural practices in Montana and Nevada, I worked in environments where the ability to practice as a generalist and work with all types of individuals was essential. My experience ranged from working with at-risk teens and in group homes in Montana, as well as working as a counselor in schools; to working for the state of Nevada as a therapist, including running domestic violence groups, DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) groups, and Women’s Coping Skills groups.
Practice
I now live and practice in East London, UK, where I work with adults, adolescents and children. My practice areas include:
- Couples Therapy
- Individual Therapy
- Depression and Anxiety Therapy
- Bereavement Counselling
- Abuse or trauma issues
- Parent-child conflict
My practice is informed by these techniques:
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
- DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
- Imago Couples Therapist
- I am a certified EMDR (Eye-Motor Desensitization Reprocessing) trauma therapist
- CRM (Comprehensive Resource Model)
Personal Influences
Growing up in the Northwest of the USA, I spent long summers working on Montana ranches, where I grew to love horses and learned training techniques. In the UK, I still make time to work with horses and find it an incredibly fulfilling pastime. Caring for and understanding animals is my way of keeping in touch with the natural world and practicing mindfulness: training horses is about being non-judgmental and being clear what information is being given to you, and what information you are giving back. That deep engagement enforces clarity of communication, and so training horses is one of my own strategies to practice dealing with the world in a compassionate and purposeful way.
The creative arts have also always spoken to me powerfully. I believe that physical fitness and healthy living can powerfully impact our mental state. While following these interests, I trained in dance at Trinity Laban in London. Studying dance helped to attune me to the clear connection between mind and body and how one impacts the other. I also found that it helped me recognize new pathways for creative solutions in therapy, through using play and spontaneity as a way to break out of pre-existing patterns. I believe that imagery and metaphor provide valuable ways for people to communicate, especially when working with children.
Ethos
When people come to me, I assume they are complex individuals who have already developed successful strategies for surviving and living their life, based on their culture, family, working life and personal histories. It is important that my patients know the level of respect I have for them walking through the door.
My practice is centered around open exploration and sensitivity. It is an interactive process of respectful challenging, and mutual participation between client and therapist. I believe that a give-and-take dialogue is essential to developing momentum and progressing in therapy.