HOW I WORK
The word ‘therapy’ may be used used whether you're seeking counselling or psychotherapy. Counselling might initially address a current or specific concern, such as a work or relationship difficulty. Often, a current concern will have links with past experience. Psychotherapy involves meeting in a long-term and open-ended way. It explores the rich tapestry of your life from childhood onwards, and looks deeply within to uncover unconscious patterns and conflicts. Both counselling and psychotherapy involve careful listening and dialogue.
Therapy can be an enlightening and challenging journey, introducing a range of new insights, perspectives and possibilities, and questioning some of your assumption, beliefs and behaviours. New ways of being become possible. The aim is to live a fuller life.
I'm trained in a range of modalities, so I tailor my approach to suit your needs. I'm informed by humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, transpersonal, existential, developmental, attachment-based and body-oriented theories. Monitoring our embodied states is particularly important, since emotions are physiological events, created, felt and regulated through the body.
I'm a relational therapist, which means an exploration of our relationship will likely be part of our work. How you and I relate may mirror how you relate to other people in your life. This can be a significant area of enquiry. Relational work also means that I see us as two human beings in the room, not as one expert and one 'patient.' I intend to be honest, open and curious when I reflect with you. If I get it wrong, I intend to be honest about that too, and see how we can learn and grow from it.
I don't take the 'blank screen' approach, meaning I don't stare at you in silence. If I don't share my thoughts with you, the therapy is only taking place in my head. I provide a non-judgemental and loving space, where I value you for the unique individual you are. This kind of environment can be rare to find, and powerful to experience.