How I work

As a Person-Centered Psychotherapist my work is based on the fact that you are a unique individual with your own specific issues.  I believe that only you can be the expert on yourself and the events that have brought you to this point in your life.  This means that I work with you to explore your experiences, helping you to decide what you need to do, how to make changes and move forwards with your life.   

By listening attentively and truly wanting to understand you, I can help you to develop greater personal insight and understanding and to find ways of coping with the issues life throws at you.

My work is also influenced by ongoing research in neuroscience that highlights the importance of the relationship between mind, brain and body. This research is critical to supporting how I can work most effectively with clients who have suffered trauma, whether in the past or more recently.  It is also provides the foundation for Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), in which I have achieved level 1 training.

How can I help you?

I offer you a calm and tranquil space to allow you time to reflect on what is going on for you.  Through therapy, change can happen for different reasons: sometimes through the very experience of being able to rely on another person and develop a trusting relationship; through  challenge to help you understand what might be going on in your life; through offering a different perspective; through supporting you to accept what has happened in the past and be able to move forwards. 

I offer both short term and longer term counselling and psychotherapy. At an initial meeting we would discuss what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to get out of it. This session also provides us both with the opportunity to get to know each other.  Research has shown that one of the most important factors in successful therapy is the relationship between the client and the therapist. Therefore it is important that you feel able to say 'yes I think I can work with you' or 'no I don't think I can'.  It also provides me with the opportunity to check that I am able to offer you the help that you need.

What happens next?

Once we have agreed to work together we will discuss the contract for therapy, which includes the frequency of sessions, confidentiality, what happens if you miss or cancel a session. Generally we will meet once a week, working at your pace and for as long as you decide.  Some clients find a few sessions helpful, whilst others choose open-ended therapy, sometimes lasting months or years.

I am passionate about the benefits of psychotherapy and counselling and feel privileged to witness the changes in clients when they have felt truly heard, accepted and not judged.  If you would like to find out more, please get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.

I can be contacted through phone or email and I look forward to hearing from you.