First Meeting

The initial consultation will give us both a chance to decide whether counselling and psychotherapy are for you and whether we are a good enough fit and can work well together. During this session I will ask you some questions about your background history, presenting issues (what is troubling you) and expectations for therapy. You will also be invited to ask me anything which may help you clarify whether you would feel comfortable with me. If we choose to work together, we will establish the focus of therapy and a treatment plan that will meet your needs. If, however, we agree that you may be better suited to a different therapist, I will do my best to signpost you in the right direction.

Goals

From the start we will agree on what you will like to get out of therapy. However, we will be reviewing the work as we move along, offering you the opportunity to reflect on your progress and how we are doing. It is not uncommon for initial goals to change as the therapeutic work evolves over time.

Integrative Framework

I chose integration because it is my belief that there is no one way of understanding human behaviour and no therapeutic approach that is suitable for everyone and all presenting issues. I integrate different theoretical approaches into a cohesive, relational way of working which involves the ‘self’ of the therapist being present on multiple levels in the work with clients.

My approach assumes the healing potential of an ethical,  authentic and mutually impacting therapeutic relationship, the quality of which is crucial. Accordingly, I aim to facilitate the development of a safe and trusting relationship, within which your self-awareness and wellbeing can significantly improve. As part of the work, I will pay attention to relational dynamics which will get evoked between us and, when appropriate, I may invite you to reflect on them, in order to help you examine and resolve unexplored and problematic patterns. Amongst my interests is attachment theory, which draws links between the nature of our present connections with others and those we had with our caregivers in the past.

At your own pace

At first you may find the prospect of opening up about your private experiences and personal reactions to them daunting. Rest assured that this is absolutely normal and that you will never be forced to share more than you feel comfortable sharing, and certainly not before a degree of trust between us is in place. It may take a few sessions for this to happen and collaboratively we will determine the pace of our work together.

In a nutshell, what is Psychotherapy?

“Psychotherapy is mainly a matter of mutual exploration of emerging meanings. Most techniques are means of diminishing fear and of promoting courage to engage in a joint exploration in which two or more people venture into the unknown alone and yet also together” – Robert F. Hobson

For Policies & Fees click here

To book an initial consultation (no need to commit to therapy), please contact me

 

An Unexamined Life is not Worth Living (Socrates)