My Approach

Psychotherapy and counselling is full of jargon, and some of that jargon will appear below.  The most important thing for you to know about how I approach psychotherapy is that I really do care; about you and the world you live in.  I'm not an expert in anything and I won't tell you what to do, but I can offer you a kind and judgement-free space where you will be heard.  We will use the relationship between us to understand how you navigate your everyday life and I will bear witness to whatever you want to bring to therapy with compassion and respect.

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This is because my practice is rooted in relational, person-centred and existential theories of counselling.  I see you as the expert in yourself and I believe in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship.  My role is as a guide and companion as we walk alongside each other for a while.   

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You will set the agenda for your therapy, and I will support your work however you would like.  This may be in helping you to find tools and techniques for everyday challenges or simply by providing you with a safe space in which to talk openly.  Sometimes I will use my training and experience to suggest some psychodynamic, compassion-focused or creative therapeutic methods to help you along the way, but the decision will rest with you.

 

I provide both long-term and short-term therapy depending on your requirements.  I work in person, online (Zoom) or via telephone, and can offer weekly, fortnightly or monthly sessions.

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How therapy works

 

1. Telephone consultation

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Finding the right therapist for you can be a daunting task.  To help you with that search, I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation to help us decide whether working together is right for you.  During this consultation, you will tell me a little bit about the reasons for you seeking therapy; you won't be expected to provide a lot of detail but I may have a few questions about your past experience of therapy and why you are seeking help now. 

 

If I am unable to work with you, I will try to provide recommendations for alternative therapists or support organisations.  If you would like to start counselling with me, we will then schedule your first appointment.

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2. Your first session

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Whether we are working face-to-face, online or over the telephone, at your first therapy session we will work together to form our contract.  This sets boundaries for our relationship and helps you to understand more about how therapy with me works.  We will discuss the goals you may have and I will seek to understand what has brought you to therapy at this time.  Once our contract has been formed, it will be over to you.  

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During the initial session, I will be listening carefully and assessing what you might need.  This will help me to shape my approach to your therapy.  At the end of the session, we will agree the time and schedule for your therapy going forward.

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3. Ongoing therapy sessions

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How your therapy unfolds really is up to you.  It is my role to guide and support you in your own process of discovery.  Sometimes I might suggest activities we could try to help you with this, but the decision is always yours.  I will draw on my experience and training, but I will always trust you as the expert in yourself to decide how you would like your therapy to be.

 

We will regularly review our work together to make sure you are getting the support you want and need.