My approach
My training and experience have continued to show me the importance of empathy, and giving people the space and time, they need to be actively listened to.
Sometimes this will be a person’s first real experience of this. The first time someone has asked, how did you feel about that? We take everything at your own pace. You only talk about what you want to, and we take it from there.
I’m here to hold the space for you. It’s your space.
I provide an environment for you to explore your thoughts, ideas and experiences, and support you to get to where you want to be.
Only human
I will always remain objective and accepting: living beings are full of nuances and shaped by lived experiences. My psychology degree, years of experience in social work, and my counselling, has certainly only ever reinforced that. I’m interested in people, so-called flaws and all. No judgement here.
Brains are built for change
Who we are is an interaction between the genes we were born with and all the experiences we’ve ever been through. It’s a mix and nothing is 100% predetermined. The really good news is that our brains are always interacting with the environment, always learning, always adapting, and thanks to neuroplasticity, our brain can rewire and forge new pathways based on new information — you can literally change your brain.
I’m not saying it is simple, or easy, but as Glennon Doyle says: “We can do hard things”.
(Side note: new things are hard at first, because that’s your brain forging a new path that it hasn’t been down before, it takes effort, it isn’t the well-trodden easy route … yet!)
Therapeutic practice approach
My primary therapy approach is called person-centred talking therapy, tailored to the needs of every individual.
My counselling includes the following approaches:
- Person Centred
- Psychodynamic
- Cognitive Behavioural
- Gestalt
Plus, knowledge and use of:
- Humanistic therapy
- Transactional analysis
- Attachment theory
- Emotional regulation/emotionally focused therapy
- Mindfulness
As well as multiple combinations of the above for a personalised, integrative approach.
