How It Works
How I Work
My Training
I am trained in three different, complementary styles of psychotherapy
Person-Centred
The client is put at the centre of the therapy and leads where we go
Transactional Analysis
A type of psychology that examines relationships and interactions
Gestalt
People's thoughts and emotions are seen as complex wholes
Integration
I blend skills and techniques from all three modalities to provide a unique experience
Flexibility
I am not constrained by one particular style and can access a broader palette of skills
"Relational" Psychotherapy
I use a relational approach to therapy...but what is that?
Human beings are relational creatures; simply put, we need contact with others to survive. Most if not all of our difficulties originate from problems we have, or have had, in relating with others.
We - you and I - will forge a relationship of our own, a therapeutic relationship, built on three things: your safety, my acceptance, and mutual trust. These building blocks can take time, but once in place are often enough just in themselves for a client to notice real and lasting change.
Once we reach this place, it can also provide a secure base for those wishing to delve deeper, to explore their own processes, to empower themselves to make decisions and changes to their lives they have longed for.
It all starts with the non-judgmental acceptance provided by a sound therapeutic relationship.
Psychotherapy or Counselling?
An often-asked but rarely-answered question...
The first noticeable difference between the two is time. Counselling is likely to last a number of weeks or months, whereas Psychotherapy is likely to be open ended and last a number of months or years.
This is because Counselling might help to address a current difficulty whereas Psychotherapy might address difficulties rooted in the past.
Psychotherapy is more in-depth and facilitates long-term changes; a reconstruction of personality or psyche areas. Counselling helps support existing personality structures.
In the UK a Counsellor will typically undergo 3 years of training (to BSc level), compared to 5 years and MSc for Psychotherapists.
That is not to say Psychotherapy is "better"; all Psychotherapists will have trained as Counsellors and will broadly employ the same techniques, certainly to begin with.
If you imagine the analogy of a building being the therapy. Counselling might involve deep cleaning, painting the walls and adding new furniture. Psychotherapy might include carefully knocking down some of the older structure and rebuilding a safer, stronger space.
To book a consultation session, or simply to ask me any questions you may have, just click this button below to contact me in the first instance, and we’ll take it from there.