I am an integrative Counselling Psychologist who can draw on a range of different approaches and models depending on your needs and how much time we have.
Every client is different and there is no one approach that fits all. No matter what theory is behind the work, building a trusting relationship always brings the best chance of real change happening. Having someone who understands the struggles you are going through provides a strong foundation to start exploring difficult aspects of your life. I won’t tell you how to live your life or judge you for the experiences you have had, but instead I will help you take control of the choices you make and to cope better with the things you have gone through.
We each have our own story and events that have brought us to where we are now. My role is to help you make sense of those and connect this to the things holding you back and causing you problems now. Therapy is a joint venture of discovery with someone you can build total trust in.
Types of therapy available
I can offer short term therapy over a number of weeks or months if there are specific issues you would like us to tackle. Likewise other people may need longer, regular psychotherapy. Either way you can be assured that I will have your best interests at heart and will only recommend what I think is possible and likely to bring positive change. I can also refer you to other therapists if I don’t feel I am the best person to help or you are looking for specialist treatment that I am unable to offer.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Working with a more specific goal in mind, CBT is a here and now therapy that offers a way to understand your current thought processes and how they are contributing to the problems you are having. It offers a way to re-structure your thoughts so you can develop more helpful and balanced ways of thinking and behaving in relation to specific issues/circumstances. Therapy usually happens over a shorter space of time between 6-20 sessions depending on severity of the problem.
Existential Psychotherapy
Looking at the way you build relationships with yourself, others and the things around you. It encourages you to look with an open mind at the areas in your life you are responsible for and to develop acceptance towards the areas you cannot change. To become more aware of the choices you do make and the areas you can develop a greater sense of ownership with.
Integrative Psychotherapy
By drawing on a range of methods I tailor my approach to your needs, the issues you are struggling with and your hopes and goals for therapy. Psychotherapy is unstructured so it gives people the opportunity to talk about a variety of issues and feelings and look at whatever comes up in any given week. Within this my role is to listen carefully to the underlining issues or recurring themes that may emerge and to help you piece together any patterns or areas to think about moving forward. Integrative Psychotherapy can be achieved by bringing together aspects of:
- Existential-phenomenological Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Psychoanalytic and Attachment theory
Creative Play therapy
Useful when working with younger adolescents and children to allow them a creative safe to express and better understand their emotions and difficulties. This is done through a combination of tools such as plasticine, drawing, story-telling, drama and imaginary play.