A way of working to suit you

A lot of people ask 'can you work with PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Grief, etc' The answer to these questions is yes. However, I prefer to think of my work and therefore my clients, without any labels.

No two clients are the same. No two labels are the same. So maybe I could work with you and your experience of depression (for example), in a completely different way to how I'd work with someone else. 

The quality of the relationship between client and counsellor is of the utmost value. It feels important to me, that you work with a Counsellor who you feel comfortable opening up to - you have your innermost thoughts, feelings and behaviours to discuss and it is extremely difficult to do this with someone you aren't comfortable talking to.

Counselling enables us to process what is going on in our minds, through talking. I often feel that the greatest gift I can offer anyone is a safe space for them to talk openly and honestly - without being judged. After allowing them the time and space to do this, I help them zoom in on key issues, and we spend time shining a light on the areas of their life that are causing them issue. A good counsellor, who accepts and understands why these areas are causing concern, treats issues with care and can offer empathy. If you accept this offer, we can walk together for a while, helping to forge a new path or change an existing one.

What if I'm not comfortable talking about my issues with you?

By using a Person Centred approach, I put you in charge of the decisions - you lead the way at all stages of the relationship. Whether that be the number of sessions we have, the frequency of the sessions or the content we discuss - you will be fully in charge throughout. I promise to follow, offering focus and discussion around  areas I sense might be important. If you don't want to explore those, I respect that and we work on something else.

What if you're not right for me? 

Above everything else, I value the importance of the relationship we have (evidence suggests this is the greatest contributor to success in therapy). If I am not for you, I can help you find another therapist who might be. There is no 'one size fits all' in counselling and you may wish to work with someone else.

I believe that everyone deserves to find peace and happiness, regardless of what they have been through. My promise to you, is that you will be treated with acceptance and non-judgement throughout our journey together.

What, specifically, do you do to help?

My training was, primarily, based around 'Person Centred Therapy.' This means that I work with you, to find solutions to problems you have, whilst you lead the way (I don't give advice). Throughout the process, I treat you with empathy, I don't judge, I have the psychological resources to make 'contact' with you and help you find the reasons you are feeling discomfort. However, there is more to my work than this as I believe some people need a little more guidance.

Additional training in Transactional Analysis, helps me explain 'scripts' which explains thoughts, feelings and behaviours that don't make sense to us. It also enables us to see why relationships we have aren't working, giving us access to make change. I've also recently trained in trauma, and believe that providing an explanation on how traumatic responses affect our brain, can help people 'normalise' their feelings and thoughts. From here, we can give ourselves compassion, and this gives us the confidence to explore more deeply, creating a better relationship with ourselves along the way. 

Combining these approaches, I listen, empathise, explain and join you. I endeavour to help you feel seen, heard and felt. This gives you the space and opportunity to make change whilst gaining a greater understanding of your journey so far. Many clients tell me the journey helps them find 'happiness' and 'a new normal', whilst describing a new type of  'lightness' in their body.