One key aim of therapy is to assist people in managing any transitions in their life. Another aim is to help a person to talk about emotions and thoughts that they may not have been able to express before. New perspectives may emerge. Therapy also helps enable people to manage difficult feelings, without avoiding them or acting them out. This can bring a sense of relief, so we can understand our current situation. Therapy is also about freeing ourselves, moving away from what we don't want, towards what we do want.
The therapy can include exploring how you re-create situations; looking at what’s in your control, what’s reactive, what’s choice. Holding that each of us are more than the impact of our history, we’ll look at what works in your life, what doesn’t and why some problems may continue. This may include exploring what matters in your life, your feelings, beliefs and fears as well as your hopes, dreams, aspirations and values.
There may be something worthwhile you want that’s not working; how you see yourself getting there and the journey itself may also be important. Besides resolving or accepting conflicts, the process of therapy is successful when we are freer to choose, living our lives less automatically, resourcing our own clarity of thought, strengths and inner wisdom.
Therapy can also provide the opportunity to look at the obstacles in our life, those we are conscious of and others we are not. With fresh insight we can understand our life differently, and a new meaning may emerge.
One common obstacle may be how we interpret our conscious and unconscious belief systems, where we may mistake our personal view as the reality. We may also assume that a crisis is negative, because it is difficult and painful. However, it may also be a sign that needs paying attention to, and opportunity for change. A further challenge may be a need to feel more authentic or living life from our core self, a place that is calm and centred, less affected by external influences.
For some people, knowing that they will be seeing a therapist on a regular basis can help relieve the sense of being on their own. This can help some people to manage their life more easily.
Company Mission :
My Approach
I value each person's uniqueness and respond in an individual way to your circumstances. I recognise that no one theory holds the truth, and that deep and lasting change is possible at any stage of life. Therapy is not an exact science and I do not hold a “one size fits all” approach. My experience and training includes working with a range of approaches and strategies. Most people have found that our way of working together and the quality of the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor. Many also value talking to someone independent, without a vested interest or preconceptions.
Within my professional and human approach, my focus is less about techniques or analysis and more about exploration, providing an external perspective, helping to shed light upon the obstacles in your life, so insights can be gained to change the areas you want to change or manage your life differently.
My role is to get to know you and for you to develop a greater understanding of yourself in a safe, confidential, supportive and jargon-free environment. This may include exploration of how you feel, think and act. Working at your own pace, I offer guidance and support so fresh ways of seeing yourself, the options and making choices become available. Alongside the issues you bring, we may look at where you would like to be in your life and what prevents you getting there, so far.
My affirming approach is to be alongside you, and the issues you bring to therapy, so the choices you make, enrich rather than limit life. I hold the view that each person takes responsibility for the way they use therapy in their life, so the outcome is in the individual’s hands.
I aim to bring clarity and sensitivity to my work with warmth and humour, together with my passionate beliefs of self-determination and responsibility.
Client List : [only shown if appropriate to profession]
Confidential
Qualifications :
My Background
My interest in therapy developed in 1982. A qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist, in my practice I bring together over twenty-five years experience of working with people at points of change in their lives, both in the voluntary sector and privately. Over this period I have valued listening to people’s life stories. I acknowledge and aspire to share what I have learnt from others.
I have completed 7 years training in psychosynthesis counselling and psychotherapy, drawn to it because it was described as a psychology of the soul.
My training combined the physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and spiritual aspects of a person and help me gain a broader understanding of myself and others.
Accreditation
I hold registration with the main UK counselling and psychotherapy professional and regulatory bodies, namely:
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) - I am a Registered Psychotherapist of UKCP
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) - I am a Member and Accredited Counsellor of BACP
Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (AHPP) - I am an Affiliate Member of AHPP
