Services

I offer counselling of a Humanistic Integrative modality. But what does this mean exactly? Well, simply put, it means that I draw on more than one theoretical model of counselling psychology to empower you to discover your own solutions to issues in a supportive, non-judgemental and confidential environment. Everyone is unique and my training enables me to adapt my approach to suit you and your needs. Only you know how you are feeling, and I will listen carefully with an empathic ear to get a real sense of your experience from your perspective. My aim is for you to feel truly heard.

“When someone really hears you without passing judgement on you, without trying to take responsibility for you, without trying to mould you, it feels damn good!”
Carl Rogers

But I won’t just listen. I will offer you my honesty and respect and work with you to develop a better understanding of yourself, that brings awareness, so you can choose new, more helpful ways of coping with life’s ups and downs. In essence, I will help you make positive change. I have a particular interest in working creatively using practical activities such as sand tray, picture cards, drawing, metaphor and visualisation and often use mindfulness and body awareness techniques, such as breathing techniques and Autogenic Training (AT), see below. However, I appreciate that this may not be for everyone and will only approach our work together in this way if it’s right for you.

Autogenic Training (AT) is a desensitisation-relaxation technique which significantly reduces stress and tension and improves sleep and mood regulation.  AT is very beneficial to people who are stressed, work hard and are at risk of (or already in) burnout and suffering from chronic tension.  In addition, conditions such as migraine/tension headaches, hypertension/coronary heart disease, asthma, Raynaud’s disease, tinnitus, sleep disorders and anxiety disorders, all improve when people practise AT.  This technique does require some commitment to learn and will require a minimum of 6-8 sessions plus home practise, but once learnt is quick and easy to do.  This teaching can be incorporated into your therapy session and will take approx 10-15 minutes of the session. 

For those experiencing the effects of trauma, or high levels of anxiety, I can confidently offer a Trauma Focused Therapy approach.  Trauma Focused Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that takes a carefully managed  three-stage approach with a strong emphasis on safety and stabilisation. It is important to first establish a safe therapeutic space that will stabilise your emotional response to the trauma.  I will work very much at your pace and only move on to trauma processing once coping strategies are in place and a safe environment and trusting relationship is established. We can then start to revisit and work through the trauma and help you understand and process your experience.  The final stage of therapy involves re-integration.  I will help you re-build connections and develop trust and re-gain a sense of meaning in your life – a sense of agency.  Although described as a linear three-stage approach there is usually movement between stages during therapy, with two stages often happening simultaneously. Re-integration, for example, tends to weave throughout the stabilisation and trauma processing stages.