This is Me...
Scroll down to find out more about me ...
As an integrative therapist, I tailor my approach to your needs.
Integrative means I do this by drawing upon a number of theoretical models, in my case this includes Person-Centred Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Attachment Theory, and Transactional Analysis (TA), all ‘in the moment’ and to support whatever is presenting in you AT that moment.
I work non-judgmentally, to provide a safe space for us to walk together as you explore your material, and I have recognised that this style of relationship provides an opportunity for a genuine, heartfelt and sincere meeting in the sessions. This helps us remain aware of our mutual influence on the therapeutic process.
Because we each hold the answers to our own selves inside, I aim for a 'journeying-alongside' approach, and in doing so I won't advise, nor direct you, as you become self-aware, but accompany you (maybe with the occasional nudge or challenge) as you build your own resilience, all within the safe and confidential space I hold for this to happen.
I complete ongoing, continual professional development as a matter of principle and to remain up to date, and I apply the professional code of ethics of a number of UK Governing Bodies including the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), as part of my choice of my way of practicing.
EVERY SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED IF YOU MAKE appropriate CHANGES.
After a number of decades working around the world and within many cultures, experiencing many challenging environments from conflict to stressful and toxic corporate situations, all the while doing my best to manage my own mental health issues, had from a young age, I experienced a significant burnout in late 2000’s. This took me almost 3 years to ‘recover’ from, although it still remains in my awareness to this day.
This profound experience became the catalyst for a desire to understand what happened at a neuro-scientific level, and how it might be predicted or even avoided in the future, prompting a number of years of researching other people’s experiences, learning about brain functioning and systems. This ultimately led to me providing global award winning (2021) educational workshops to large well known corporate organisations worldwide, on practices to build cognitive resilience.
Whilst this was successful, I was not satisfied I was doing all I could towards reducing the suffering in others, so in 2019, I embarked on a multi-year journey, training in Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counselling & Psychotherapy.
I now help those who are suffering not just from burnout, but a wider range of mental health issues, such as grief, anxiety, depression, childhood and recent trauma from abuse and/or neglect, PTSD, anger, guilt, feelings of being alone and unsupported, addiction, early dementia, bipolar disorder, and support when struggling after bereavement.
I work in an Integrative way, trained in utilising elements of a number of different therapeutic theories (modalities) which are most appropriate for the presenting issues 'in the moment'. These therapeutic theories include Person-Centred Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Transactional Analysis (TA), Pluralistic Therapy, and Attachment Theory.
Currently I only focus on adults (18+), however I do work with some teenagers who are experiencing grief from bereavement.
I do work with teenagers, but currently only around dealing with grief and loss from bereavement.
I do not impose a limit to the number of sessions. That is decided by you, based on your own needs and circumstances, however I do have a minimum of 6 sessions, because I have found that is the least number of sessions to be needed to make progress on specifically targeted issues,
As mentioned in my own journey of how I came to counselling, I experienced my own very significant burnout, and spent time researching the neuroscience and affects of this on the brain, leading to me working both with those experiencing burnout, and providing training to corporates on cognitive resilience for their workforce (under specific bespoke work contracts. Contact me for more information about my workshops.)
It probably goes without saying that I work with the challenges of burnout, but I also work with all types of presenting issues and challenges, including grief & loss (death and non-death loss), anxiety, stress, trauma, abuse, depression, relationship difficulties, or when unexpectedly feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
Whilst I work with all types of presenting issues and challenges, I do specialise in work around all types of grief, loss, and abandonment, It is important to remember that loss can also be non-death related, such as divorce, relationship breakup, redundancy, physical capability loss, mental capability loss (dementia), all of which come with their own grief and mourning processes.
The first step in therapy is for us to meet for an initial consultation to get to know each other a little.
At that first meeting, I will be asking you lots of questions about the issues you’re struggling with right now and what you’re hoping to address in therapy. I will also be asking you about your childhood experiences and your relationships with and within your family from then until now.
Other important information I need will include any previous therapy you’ve had (how it went, how it ended, whether it was satisfactory, etc.), your work history, relationship history, reasons previous relationships ended and your current relationship if you have one.
The reason I ask these questions is so that when I walk alongside you on your journey through therapy, I can better reflect on where you are coming from and have a hint at why you might have reached this place here and now, which can inform where the work might take us.
I will obviously allow time during the first, maybe also the second, session for you to ask any questions you wish to ask about me, therapy in general and how I see us working together in the future.