"Because we are social animals, other people are our primary source of safety and stress" (Louis Cozolino)
My Approach
There are many reasons why you might think about having therapy. You may be struggling with symptoms of anxiety and / or depression, perhaps alongside addiction issues. You may be having trouble living with difficult or traumatic memories, or with abuse or anger issues. You may be stuck in unhelpful and unsatisfying patterns in important relationships in your life, or have a feeling that you are not living your life to the fullest. You may wish to come to know yourself more fully. Or you may simply want to talk to someone who isn't a family-member or a friend. This list is certainly not exhaustive, and whatever brings you to therapy I provide a safe, welcoming, respectful and reflective space to think about whatever is troubling you, and its impact on your life.
As a counselling psychologist I am trained in multiple therapeutic approaches, but I am primarily a relational psychodynamic practitioner. To give you an idea what this means, in our work together we will think about whatever brings you to therapy in its relational context: which relationships cause or worsen your troubles, and which relationships lessen or counteract them. We will also think about your implicit relationship expectations, which we all develop early in life and often sit beyond conscious awareness, and how they are linked to difficulties you may be having. And we will use the relationship we establish as a guide in our work, as well. Although this way of working takes your own history into account, its focus is in the present, and on how our work might help with whatever is at issue for you today. This relational perspective is effective in reducing distress and facilitating greater self-understanding and positive change, and is supported by a strong evidence base. My training in humanistic and cognitive-behavioural modalities also allows me to tailor my own approach to better fit your needs.
I can work in the short term (10-20 sessions), focusing on a particular issue, or in the longer term where we have the chance to work on whatever brings you to therapy in depth. I am an accredited practitioner of Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a 16-session relational therapy that is a frontline depression treatment in the NHS. I am also trained in specific interventions for post-traumatic stress including EMDR, and am a member of the EMDR Association UK. My work is always trauma-informed.
As a member of the BPS and BACP, I abide by their ethical frameworks in my practice. I know that deciding to have therapy, and deciding which approach to go for, can be confusing and daunting. If you're wondering whether my way of working might be a good fit for you, please just get in touch and we can arrange a confidential introductory phone call. If I feel you would be better helped by working with someone else, I have a large referral network and will be happy to make a recommendation.
