My Approach
Relational Integrative Therapy
I offer relational integrative therapy, which means that I work in a range of ways to meet the needs of my clients. My integrative practice incorporates person-centred and psychodynamic counselling, as well as elements of Gestalt therapy.
One of the fundamental ideas behind relational counselling is that we are shaped by our contexts and our relationships; our experience of being in relationship can lead to psychological distress but it can also be the thing that facilitates growth and healing. I work with clients to help them explore their feelings, using the therapeutic relationship as a lens through which we can explore other relationships in their life.
Through my person-centred work, I aim to give clients a safe space to explore their feelings without judgement. The counselling relationship is different to other relationships in that it is not conditional – the relationship is here to meet your needs. Sometimes it can be helpful to have someone witness your feelings, to simply be with you as you allow yourself access to emotions which are difficult to tolerate. I will be with you.
In my psychodynamic work, I help clients to explore how their past experiences might influence their feelings in the present, and how this then affects their current relationships. I help clients to explore the their unconscious processes, including psychological defences they have had to build up in order to adapt to what was happening around them. As well as helping clients to acknowledge how these adaptations have been helpful and have served them in the past, I also help clients to explore how these defences might be having unintended consequences in their lives now, when perhaps the defences are no longer needed. Together, we work to explore these ways of being and the feelings that they bring up. Acceptance of these emotions and responses can then lead to greater insight, more self-compassion and, ultimately, more choice.
Gestalt therapy focusses on the here-and-now. In my work with clients, we might raise awareness of what is happening in the moment. For some clients, paying attention to bodily sensations can give insight into our emotions and our wider sense of 'being'; Gestalt therapy sees each client as a whole, instead of being a separate mind and body.
I work with clients' individual needs, incorporating aspects of different therapeutic approaches in response to each person's preferences.
before we start our work
Free initial meeting
Finding a counsellor can be a big step. By looking at this website, you've already made a start - but making the next move can sometimes feel hard.
I offer a free initial meeting to allow us the chance to decide whether we could work together; the counselling relationship is key. This will also give us a chance to explore what has brought you to counselling and how we might move forward. My aim is also to reduce the anxiety which can sometimes come with trying to find a counsellor - by having an initial meeting, you're not signing up for anything. It's important that you have enough information to make an informed choice.
If you're interested in talking to me, please contact me to book an initial meeting.
