About therapy
You don't need to know what to say or do before you begin. All of your thoughts and feelings say something valuable about you and your life now. As much self reflection and honesty as you feel able to bring into sessions, even when it feels a bit scary or unfamiliar can bring great relief and reduce confusion, loneliness and isolation.
We can start with what feels most important to you, and we will explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and bodily responses so that things can begin to feel clearer.
The long-term benefits of therapy include being able to understand yourself better, an increased sense of purpose and clarity, feeling more at home in yourself and improved relationships.
You can live more fully, and with choice.
Curiosity
Together, we'll gently look at how you react to things, but without any harshness. Understanding why you handle life the way you do is the best way to start feeling better and moving forward.
Finding your agency
You always have the power to choose how you want to live now, no matter what you've been through in the past. Together, we’ll figure out what you truly want and value. As you learn new ways to hold and express your feelings, you’ll find you have the space to make better, clearer decisions for your life.
Joining the dots
Connecting the dots helps us get to the root of what is really going on, rather than just patching up the smaller things on top.
Life and new ideas
Sessions can be really uplifting. You aren't stuck as you are - you're changing, growing, creative and capable.
Inner and outer support
Our sessions work best when you look after yourself too. Whether it is eating well, getting some fresh air, being creative, or just finding five minutes of quiet, these little things help create a steady base for the changes you are looking to make in your life.
Therapeutic Approach
Using a person-centered foundation, I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental partnership where we are equals. Wherever you are starting from I believe that everyone has a natural impulse toward growth, and healing, and my role is to create the conditions needed for that to emerge during our sessions together.
I use attachment and development theory to consider how your earliest caregiver relationships might have shaped your current sense of self and safety and how you form and maintain relationships today. We can work together to build a stronger self and develop more meaningful, healthy ways of relating to the people in your life, whether in personal circles or your professional environment.
The psychodynamic aspect focuses on identifying the unconscious patterns or protections. In many somatic approaches these protections or defences from feeling are physical and held in the tissues and muscles which can result in patterns of posture, movement and muscle holding.
If this way of working is meaningful for you we can work with various internal 'parts', recognising that humans are complex and multi-layered. We can explore these different, sometimes conflicting, aspects of the self to improve your self-awareness and also self compassion. The aim is to nurture younger parts and understand the role that protective parts may play even if on the surface they appear to be unhelpful. This way of working can decrease internal friction and help you move toward a more integrated, balanced, and harmonious whole.
I also use psychoeducation and can work with you with a range of tools and models in order that you develop a meaningful understanding of your experiences and difficulties and can see a way forward.
If you want to know more, please ask.
Values and Inclusion
Self-Reflection
Everything I practice is includes ongoing self-reflection. I believe that working with others requires me to examine my own history, experiences and role and the relationship between us.
Ethics
I follow the BACP Ethical Code. I live cleanly and have a spiritual practice. I recognise the impact of social power and systems in our lives. I offer a sliding fee scale in the hope that this makes therapy more accessible. I value people as people - whatever their background , status and experiences. I enjoy working with and respect difference as well as similarity
Neurodiversity
I have significant experience helping neurodivergent clients, including those with autism or ADHD,
My room set up allows for you to sit on the chair, sofa, meditation cushion or mat, floor — whatever is comfortable for you. I can also adjust the lighting and provide blankets and cushions.