How I work

I offer a confidential therapeutic service within a safe and empathic consultation space for you to explore whatever topic, thought, feeling or behaviour, etc., you choose.

Equally, you may not know exactly what it is you want to look at specifically but you have just a general sense that something doesn't feel "right" for you and would like some professional support to increase your insight or understanding of what you're experiencing.

I am an integrative relational practitioner working with adults.
Relational means that relationships (interpersonal and with self) are always at the core of, and key to, all work we do.

Integrative means that I integrate two main therapeutic approaches, namely person-centred and psychodynamic.

In a (very small) nutshell, 'person-centred' means that you decide what you want to explore and 'psychodynamic' means that we will look at what has contributed to you being the person you are today.

At times, I may suggest other techniques that I think may be useful to our work, for example, you using crayons during sessions to express thoughts or feelings in a different way.

A few of the many common issues that people have chosen to work through with my support have included anxiety, bereavement, depression/low mood, gender identity, loss, relationship issues, sexual abuse and sexual orientation.

This is not an exhaustive list.

Although I work to a deep level with people, and the unique journey that you are on might be emotionally painful or difficult, that does not preclude humour and laughter being spontaneously present in sessions. Indeed, I firmly believe connecting with another through a shared smile or laughter is enormously healing for all.

Sessions

There will be an initial consultation [60 minutes] and in this session, we will not only talk more about your history and the reasons you are seeking counselling at this time in greater detail but you will also get a good idea of how I work.

If you decide to continue the work with me, then sessions thereafter [50 minutes] are often once per week [can be more frequently], on the same day and at the same time.

The number of sessions can be agreed at the start for short–term work or I also work with people long-term and open-ended.