There is no single right way to do therapy
Everyone comes to counselling with their own experiences, relationships, strengths and challenges. What feels helpful to one person may not feel right for another.
I am an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist. This means I draw upon several therapeutic approaches rather than expecting you to fit into one particular method.
I see you as a whole person—your thoughts, emotions, relationships, physical responses and life experiences are all connected. Together, we can explore what is happening for you and shape our work around your individual needs.
"At the heart of therapy is the
relationship we build together"
Therapy is more than a collection of techniques. Feeling safe, respected and genuinely heard creates the foundation from which meaningful exploration and change can take place.
I aim to offer a relationship that is warm, dependable and honest. I will listen carefully, share observations when they may be helpful and gently encourage you to look at things from different perspectives—always with respect for your pace and autonomy.
The ideas that inform my work
I draw upon a range of therapeutic ideas to help us understand your experiences more deeply. You do not need to understand the different approaches or decide which one you require; I will introduce ideas naturally when they feel relevant to our work.
Attachment-based psychotherapy
Our earliest relationships can influence how we experience trust, closeness, separation and emotional safety throughout our lives.
Exploring these early patterns can help us understand how you relate to yourself and others today, creating opportunities for more secure and fulfilling connections.
Person-centred therapy
Person-centred therapy is founded on the belief that you are the expert on your own life.
I will meet you with empathy, honesty and acceptance, offering a space where you can explore your experiences without being judged, directed or told how you should feel.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Past experiences can continue to influence our emotions, relationships and behaviour, sometimes in ways we do not immediately recognise.
By looking beneath the surface, we can begin to understand recurring patterns and how earlier experiences may be affecting your life in the present.
Transactional analysis
Transactional analysis can help us understand the different ways we think, feel, communicate and respond within relationships.
It can bring greater awareness to familiar roles, internal messages and patterns of interaction, giving you more choice in how you relate to yourself and other people.
Somatic and parts work
Emotional experiences are not held only in our thoughts. They may also be felt through tension, tiredness, restlessness, numbness or other physical responses.
Parts work can help us understand the different aspects of ourselves that may hold conflicting feelings or needs. Approaching these parts with curiosity rather than criticism can support greater understanding and inner balance.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves bringing gentle attention to what is happening in the present moment.
It can help you notice thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations without immediately reacting to or judging them, creating a little more space in which different choices can become possible.
Working with
mind and body
Our thoughts, emotions and physical responses are closely connected. When we feel anxious, overwhelmed or unsafe, the body may respond before we have understood what is happening.
Where it feels helpful, I may invite you to notice physical sensations or emotional responses as they arise during a session. This is always an invitation rather than an expectation, and we will work in a way that feels safe and manageable for you.
Bringing awareness to both mind and body can help us understand what lies beneath familiar reactions, soothe the nervous system and create space for lasting change.
What our work might involve
Exploring past
and present
Understanding how earlier experiences and relationships may influence how you feel and respond today.
Noticing recurring patterns
Recognising familiar patterns in your thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships.
Developing
self-compassion
Learning to approach yourself and your experiences with greater kindness, curiosity and acceptance.
Finding
new choices
Creating more freedom in how you respond to difficulties, relationships and change.
A collaborative process, at your pace
Therapy is not about someone else telling you what to do or providing a quick solution. It is a collaborative process in which we explore your experiences together.
There may be times when our conversations feel reassuring and times when they feel challenging. I will support you to approach difficult feelings with care, without pushing you further or faster than feels manageable.
Your autonomy remains central throughout our work. You decide what you wish to explore, and we will regularly reflect upon what feels useful and what you hope to gain from counselling.
You do not need to perform or be a particular way in therapy
You can arrive exactly as you are. You do not need to know what to say, have everything clearly understood or talk about anything before you feel ready. Therapy offers time to pause, be heard and reconnect with what matters to you.
Begin with a conversation
Taking the first step can feel daunting. I offer a free initial telephone consultation, giving us an opportunity to speak briefly about what has brought you to counselling, answer any questions and see whether working together feels right for you.
Call 07890 320 661