Therapy

Approach

I use an integrative approach to therapy that is predominantly relational.

Integrative

Integrative approaches accept that value is found in many different disciplines and traditions. As an integrative therapist, I find that the ability to draw on different approaches, theories, and techniques enables me to adapt my way of working and better understand each individual; the issues causing them difficulty; and what they’d like to achieve during our work together.

My work is typically informed by humanistic and experiential approaches; psychodynamic theories; developmental theories; technical and intervention-based approaches; and social learning theories.

Relational

My approach is structured around the principles of relational theories. There is a great deal of research and evidence that recognises the importance of the therapeutic relationship as crucial to effective therapy.

Relational theories offer a consistent lens for understanding, and I work according to a number of related foundational assumptions:

Personality, self, and identity are formed and maintained within the context of (particularly early) relationships
How we relate to our experiences informs our beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and responses
There are patterns and unconscious elements that are not immediately apparent, or may become self-defeating
Relationships, patterns, and issues can be explored and re-organized within the context of an appropriately safe, genuine, and understanding therapeutic relationship
The therapeutic relationship is a “two-person” relationship, where more is the same than different about client and therapist, and each bring their own unique perspectives and mutually influence one another

Most importantly, it is my experience that building a warm, trusting, and professional relationship, where we can think and reflect together, is a necessary starting point for any ongoing work and understanding. This is expressed in a warm and collaborative way of working, which assumes therapy should not be prescriptive or authoritative, and places the client centrally to the process as expert of their own experience.

If you have any questions about my approach and way of working, please feel free to contact me for more information.

Who I work with

Although all people seeking help are welcome, I have particular experience working with anxiety and panic-related conditions (including generalised anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety/phobia, intrusive thoughts and compulsions, phobias); and special interest in interpersonal, relational, and attachment-related problems.

I also have experience working with a range of issues and difficulties, including:

Depression and low mood, trauma and PTSD, domestic abuse and violence, physical and emotional abuse, bullying, low self-esteem and confidence, loneliness, interpersonal and relationship issues/attachment, stress and work-related stress, emotional management, substance misuse, bereavement and grief/loss, self-harm and suicidal ideation, health related issues and chronic illness, life transitions or significant events, and many more.

I operate an inclusive practice and welcome people from all backgrounds. I find that while it is helpful to meet each individual as they are, it is important to remember that we develop and exist in relation to our circumstances and the society we live in – we cannot be understood separately from our social contexts.

What to expect

There’s no one way to do therapy – each person’s specific needs and experience is different. How we might work together will be discussed and determined by us collaboratively. That being said, there are a few details and arrangements that remain fairly typical of how I work and may give you an idea of what to expect:

First contact

You can find my contact information here. I will get back to you as soon as possible, but please be patient as replies may be slightly delayed and I am not always able to return text/call/emails immediately.

We will then arrange a day/time that is suitable for us to meet for an initial session.

Initial session(s)

The first session is a chance for us to meet and get to know each other a bit better, for you to explain things in a bit more detail, for us to check we are understanding one another, and for us to determine if we feel we’d be a good match for working together. (It can often feel like there’s not enough time to explain everything that you’d like to or feel comfortable with, and it is common that this initial ‘getting to know you’ period lasts a number of sessions.)

We will also have a chance to discuss arrangements including confidentiality, regular session day/time, cancellation policies, frequency and duration, session fee and payment, and note keeping and data protection.

Typical sessions

Sessions are an opportunity for you to speak, and for us to think and explore together. This is your time and you’re responsible for leading and deciding what we speak about. I will try to listen and understand you and your experiences. You may not always know what to talk about and this is fine. Although I may be help to guide you gently, instead, I would encourage you to speak about whatever comes to mind.

With some time you may feel comfortable enough to speak more freely, and I would encourage you not to self-censor (this sounds fairly easy, but it’s actually often more difficult than expected).

I do not offer advice or guidance (I generally find this an unhelpful use of time). I will offer my reflections, interpretations, and understandings of what we speak about.

Sometimes, I may check-in with you about how we are getting on and how you are experiencing our work together so that we can review and I can make sure we are on the right track. I would encourage as much honesty as you feel comfortable with when reflecting on these questions (again, this might be easier than it sounds!) as it can be helpful to identify which things are and aren’t being useful.

People use therapy in many different ways and for many different reasons. It is a very individual experience. Therefore, it’s hard to describe a “typical” experience. Ultimately, if you’re interested in working together and feel like we might be a good fit, it’s best to give it a go. You can contact me to arrange an initial session and we can discuss things in more detail.