My philosophy
I believe that every single one of us deserves the chance to thrive; to live free of shame, and to recognise and celebrate our strengths. We deserve to be seen and to be heard, regardless of ethnicity, faith, colour, gender, or any other marker of our similarity or difference.
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​“To be seen and to be heard. That is the truest nature of love." Brene Brown.
My role in our work together
The counselling relationship is different to any other. It's a chance to explore all the different aspects of yourself, and to test out ideas about yourself and others without judgement. My role is to be alongside you as you do so, to listen without judgement and to reflect back what I hear, or things I notice that might be of help to you. Working this way can help you
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process difficult experiences,
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clarify how you see yourself in the world and in relationship with others,
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identify your values and how these shape your responses,
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notice where past experiences or negative self beliefs are holding you back,
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address patterns of behaviour in the way you relate to yourself and others.
My approach
I work holistically, mindful that our mental and emotional wellbeing is interconnected with our physical and spiritual health. I might ask you about these things in our sessions, about your eating and sleep patterns, your nervous system and how it reacts in different situations, and about how you resource yourself spiritually.
As an integrative counsellor I am able to draw on a range of counselling approaches. This means I work slightly differently with each person I meet. What this looks like for you is something we will explore together in our first few sessions. It starts quite simply with a conversation and we go from there, building structure and setting goals, or exploring things more intuitively and creatively if that feels more natural. You can read more about how integrative counselling at the bottom of this page.​
Support for anxiety and trauma
I am experienced in supporting anxiety and trauma I understand how our bodies respond to stress and the impact of difficult events on our nervous system. I know how anxiety and intrusive thoughts can paralyse us in social situations and keep us locked within ourselves. I also know how the trauma of early experiences can be stored in the body, manifesting in later life as anxiety, chronic fatigue, and other physical and mental health diagnoses that keep us from processing the past and finding freedom within ourselves. If you are manging trauma or anxiety, I will work with you at your pace, supporting you with grounding techniques, and helping you identify and work through difficult memories and emotions.
Creative expression
I am creative and enjoy using creative expression, especially where it makes communication easier. If you find it easier to write your thoughts down before or during a session, you are welcome to do so. If art helps you connect with your inner world and express what's happening in the moment we can draw or doodle. If you prefer talking, then let’s just talk. I am open-minded; what matters most is that you feel comfortable and fully able to be yourself.
More about Integrative Counselling
I prefer to work integratively as it allows me to draw on a range of counselling approaches. In my experience, one size doesn't fit all. People think, communicate, and process information differently, and being able to work in a way that feels meaningful to you, increases the potential for growth and change.
My core counselling approach is Person Centred. Based on the ideas of Carl Rogers, this approach believes that we are each our own expert and have an innate instinct or drive to 'actualize' and achieve our full potential.
Other counselling approaches I use include: ​
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​Psychodynamic Theory -explores defences we may have developed and patterns of behaviour we repeat.
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Internal Family Systems -sees each one of us as the sum of many parts and explores the role each part plays and how different parts might interact.
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Transactional Analysis -views all human interactions as transactions and can be helpful in understanding relationship dynamics and patterns of communicating.
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Gestalt Theory - focuses on the now and what is happening in the present.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - looks at how our thoughts influence our behaviours, and offers coping skills for managing things like anxiety.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) -emphasises mindful acceptance and movement towards a meaningful life based on our values.​
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I might mention these approaches in our meetings, but very often I am referencing them intuitively. For example, an element of Psychodynamic Theory is to notice patterns of behaviour or repeated ways of responding that get in the way of our relationships. What this looks like in practice is that I might simply draw your attention to patterns that I notice and explore these with you.