Counselling & Psychotherapy
There are times in all our lives when we need someone we can open up to, and it's not always easy, or helpful, to talk to friends or family, especially if they are emotionally involved, or part of the problem. Talking to a professional, someone who is “outside the situation” and who doesn’t have opinions about what you ‘should’ be doing, really can help. The therapy room is a safe place where you can share in confidence without fear of judgement.
My role as your therapist is collaborative. I aim to empower you to find solutions to the challenges in your life and to gain a deeper understanding of how and why these problems developed. I won’t tell you what to do or give you advice - at first this may feel strange and/or refreshing, as we are so often bombarded by others' advice, but it might also leave you feeling frustrated - we're often desperately hoping for a quick-fix.
Research indicates that there are two crucial factors in how effective your therapy will be: 1) the quality of your connection with your therapist and 2) your own contribution to the work. Choosing a therapist who will be a good fit for you is important, but it's not always easy to recognise what a 'good fit' is, after all in the beginning many relationships can seem to be instinctively 'right' but turn out to be unhealthy! I suggest you ask yourself three questions. Firstly do you have a sense that I have your best interests at heart, secondly do you have a sense that I 'get you' and thirdly do you experience us working together as a team.
But even before we meet you can learn more about me here;
If you would like a deeper understanding of how therapy works and how you can get the best out of it check out the FAQ section where you will find some excerpts from articles written by various psychotherapists which may develop your understanding of the therapy process;
As an integrative therapist I use a Person-Centered approach, always responsive to my clients needs. I draw from a number of different theories including Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Transactional Analysis, Internal Family Systems, and Personality, Attachment and Developmental Theories.
There is some more detail on some theories below if you are interested in learning more about them.
"It is a joy to be hidden, and disaster not to be found" - D.W. Winnicott
Mindfulness is bringing our attention to present moment experiences with openness, kindness, curiosity and a willingness to be with what is.
Our minds race around at incredible speed, jumping from thought to thought. We find ourselves moving through life on auto-pilot, just going through the motions - often lost in regret about the past and worries about the future.
Mindfulness is a way to train your attention to come back to the present moment.
Attachment Theory, pioneered by John Bowlby, teaches us that the fundamental structures of our mind, our 'internal working models' are shaped by early attachment relationships - secure, insecure or disorganised. Disruptions to attachment have long lasting effects particularly in how we relate to others.
Understanding how early development impacts on our here-and-now behaviour, emotions and interpersonal relations can help shed light on why we keep repeating the ‘mistakes’ of the past
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based therapy which empowers us to identify and move towards what matters most (our values) while practicing acceptance for what is outside our control.
Trying to avoid, escape or control unwanted thoughts and feelings leads to, and can exacerbate issues like anxiety and depression. ACT helps us to get distance from our thoughts, noticing thoughts without getting caught up in them and letting them control us.
ACT is less problem focused than many other therapies. It aims to help you commit to living a more meaningful and vibrant life.