Therapy can lead to personal insight and a greater sense of peace and wellbeing. You may gain a stronger sense of Self, improved relationships, confidence in your choices, and a sense of personal growth.

Therapy can help you to notice patterns of thought or behaviour that may have served you in the past but which are now getting in the way of your happiness, peace of mind, or wellbeing. These may include spirals of negative thoughts, angry outbursts, excessive screen time, or ‘workaholism’. Therapy can help if you feel stuck, unable to move forward, held back by anxiety, low mood or low self-belief.

I can also help you to challenge messages you may have absorbed from the world around you, for example ‘I am too much’, ‘I am going to fail’ or ‘I don’t fit in’.

My training as an integrative therapist means that I draw on a wide range of theories and approaches. The theories and tools that we use depend on what works for you: you may prefer a more structured approach with ‘homework’ between sessions, for example. If the very thought of therapy homework fills you with dread, that’s fine too. We will work in whatever way best suits you.

Most recently I have trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) with the IFS Institute. IFS is a powerful evidence-based psychotherapy rooted in compassion and mindfulness.

I believe that no one therapeutic approach can work for all client issues and that different interventions and ways of working will be right for different clients at different times, including during the course of therapy. You may know from past experiences what was helpful and what not, or you may be new to therapy. Either way I will check in with you regularly, and we will adapt our style as therapy progresses.

Some of the ideas and approaches that influence my practice include person-centred therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), transactional analysis (TA), Gestalt, CBT,  attachment theory, ecopsychology, sandplay and various somatic (body-based), creative and experiential techniques.

It is very hard to predict where therapy will take us, or how long it will take to reach that point at which you say ‘I’m ready to stop now’.

My clients tend to stay with me for six months to two years. Some stay for six weeks, others for four years or longer. The number of sessions we have is guided by you, your needs and the nature of the work we are doing. Work towards a single defined goal may take a couple of months, while more general insight-oriented work may take years. 

You are free to stop at any point. I normally recommend a minimum commitment of 6 weeks, in order to give us time to build the relationship and find our momentum. I also recommend that we have a planned final session where possible.

There is some debate about the differences between counselling, therapy and psychotherapy. The terms are used differently in different countries and by different practitioners, which adds to the confusion.

In the UK use of the terms counsellor, therapist and psychotherapist are not currently controlled by law, and can be used interchangeably.

This is how I understand it in terms of my own practice:

Counselling may explore specific emotional, behavioural or mental health issues. This may involve guidance, support or strategies for day to day living.

Therapy or psychotherapy often works at a deeper level, and may be longer-term work. We will work to gain an understanding of those parts of us that influence our decisions and reactions, often working ‘under the radar’, out of our consciousness.

In my work I draw on multiple perspectives. You may need me to support you as you work through a specific event, a change in circumstances or a loss. Alternatively, you may be reviewing your life in a more wholesale way, exploring deep-set patterns of relating to yourself or to others. Perhaps we will explore your attachment patterns, habitual responses, or persistent feelings of shame or guilt.

When you work with a professional who has been in practice for a while, they are likely to be drawing on many different approaches. Research shows that the most important predictor of a positive outcome from therapy is the quality of the therapeutic relationship. If you feel a trusting authentic connection with your mental health professional, you are likely to be on the right track.

Therapy sessions are guided by your needs and wishes, with me holding the threads of whatever you share with me. We may hold specific goals in mind or work in a more organic, open-ended way. I will work with whatever you bring with no judgement and a responsive, flexible approach to whatever you might need in the moment.

When we first meet I will ask what brought you to therapy and if you have any specific hopes for therapy or goals you would like to work towards. I will regularly take time to ask how you are finding therapy and whether I could adjust my approach to fit your needs.

I occasionally offer suggestions for further reading, listening or reflection. These are suggestions only: there is no obligation that you will pursue any. At times we may agree tasks to complete between sessions.

What you tell me in our sessions is confidential. The only exception would be if I felt that you or someone else were at risk of being harmed in some way, or weren’t safe. No decision to break confidentiality would be taken lightly. 

I work with a clinical supervisor and may consult with colleagues with specific expertise in order to ensure that my work is ethical and effective. I do not disclose any identifying details about my clients.

I offer 8am slots Tuesday to Friday, plus early evening slots Tuesday to Thursday. Although I will always do my best to meet your needs, these slots are popular and may not be available. I offer daytime slots from Tuesday to midday on Friday.

Firstly: you have full permission to cry in therapy. I welcome it, in fact. Tears, and the vulnerability they bring, can be an important part of the healing process.

In addition to this, crying can prompt our bodies to release the ‘feel-good hormone’ oxytocin and endorphins, which can help ease both physical and emotional pain.

If you fear becoming overwhelmed with emotion, we can work with that. I can help you to re-ground and re-regulate yourself if necessary.

I will never ask you to suppress your tears: you can take the time you need to express the way you are feeling.

It is possible that progress may not occur in the way or at the speed you had hoped for. I cannot make any promises or guarantees as to the progress or outcomes of therapy in terms of goal achievement or measurable change. I can assure you that I will bring my skills, training and authentic Self to our work, and support you to the best of my ability.

If the work falls short of what you expect to achieve, I encourage you to share any discomfort with me in session. If you would prefer to try another practitioner or type of therapy, I can recommend therapists who may be the right match.

The choice about whether to continue therapy is always yours: you can pause or end at any time. I do ask that you let me know when you would like us to finish working together, and that if possible we have a planned final session. Endings are an important part of therapy.

In order to ensure that our work is meeting your expectations, we will take time regularly to review our work, revalidating the direction we are taking or refocussing as necessary.