About Psychotherapy

Everyone faces difficulties in life. It might be that something specific or traumatic has happened. Maybe challenges have built up and feel too much to handle. Or perhaps it’s possible just to get a bit lost somewhere along the line. Sometimes we need some extra support to process and soothe specific pain, or to take some time to get to know ourselves on a deeper level.

I’ve worked with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement, eating disorders, sexual, physical and emotional trauma, issues with sexuality, the struggle to get in touch with feelings, relationship problems, living with chronic illnesses, wounding from narcissistic and other harmful parenting styles, difficult childhoods and developmental trauma, and a lack of purpose, meaning or direction. I’m also particularly interested in working with the loss (or lack) of a sense of self, the general feeling that things aren’t quite right, and the experience of feeling ‘different’ or ‘outside’.

Psychotherapy can help us to discover new insights about ourselves and perspectives of our lives. It can help us to ease the hardest moments in life, and possibly, with time, even transform pain into the discovery of new potential or meaning. I offer a confidential, non-judgemental, safe, supportive and empathic space in which we can collaborate and explore together whatever has brought you to therapy. I provide some opportunity for short-term counselling, but most of my work is longer-term therapy to look at deeper issues.

As well as working through specific issues or events, therapy is an opportunity to be curious about who you are, underneath the mask you might be wearing in order to prove to the world that you’re good enough. That mask can be caused by events or moments in life (often early on, and sometimes caused by trauma from obvious abuse, neglect or a specific incident — but often it’s more subtle) in which we took on the belief that it’s not OK to be ourselves, or that our feelings are unacceptable. Children form ingenious, unconscious defences to help them navigate and feel safer in the world. However, those defences have an expiry date, and often cause problems or leave us feeling worse when we enter various stages of adulthood, getting in the way of authenticity, intimacy, healthy relationships and our natural flow.

At the heart of therapy is the relationship between client and therapist. By meeting at the same time and place on a weekly basis, together we form a sort of alchemical vessel. Once the vessel is created, we can invite and welcome all the parts of you — even those that you believe to be unpalatable to the world for whatever reason. By processing past experiences and accepting everything about ourselves, we can begin to feel more whole, and things start to transform. True, deep change often happens on a subtle level, and builds to meaningful transformation over time.

My way of working is Integrative and Transpersonal, meaning I’m trained to work in a number of ways and draw on different traditions, tailoring the approach to suit you, at all times holding the belief that you have an inherent unique set of qualities, potential and purpose in the world, all of which are ready to unfold in the right conditions. I believe in welcoming all parts of the human experience into the therapy room, including the emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual and creative.

A lot of the work is talking. If it’s appropriate, and if you’re comfortable, we might work with the body, dreams, visualisations, breath work, Mindfulness, creativity and relaxation techniques. Please visit Creativity in Therapy to read more. My work is all supported by regular clinical supervision and on-going professional development.

Sessions are weekly and last 50 minutes. I offer in-person and online sessions. Please contact me to check availability.

I practice in compliance with the UKCP code of ethical practice, and receive regular clinical supervision. I’m accredited by UKCP.

Is therapy for you?

• Do you have problems forming or maintaining relationships?

• Do you have a sense of emptiness that you can’t explain?

• Do you often feel sad, low, anxious, worried or not at ease?

• Do you feel bad about yourself?

• Do you often get irritable or feel angry?

• Do you struggle to know who you are?

• Do you struggle to find meaning in your life?

• Do you feel unhappy but think you shouldn’t, because your life is ‘great’?

• Are you more stressed at work than you’ve been before?

• Do you have repeated problems with managers at work or other authority figures?

• Do you have something hanging unresolved from childhood?

• Do you turn to food, drink or substances for comfort or in addiction?

• Are you struggling with a change in your life?

• Are you struggling with the loss of someone or something?

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, then therapy might be for you. It’s a bit of a misconception that you need to be able to perfectly articulate or pinpoint an obvious issue. Sometimes we can, but not always, and when the feeling or sense is a more general un-ease, then that’s very welcome.

All this said, therapy isn’t for everyone. What’s important is that it’s your choice to come.

If I don’t think I can help, I will happily refer you to another service or specialised therapist.