‘Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still’
chinese proverb
As an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist the way I work is informed and influenced by a range of theoretical models, professional training and over 20 years experience of working therapeutically with clients. My aim is to respond to each individual client’s needs and to work in a flexible, collaborative and creative way. I believe the relationship between client and therapist plays a central role in the process, providing the base from which understanding, insight and emotional growth may be achieved.
Exploring and learning about the way we relate to ourselves, to others and the world around us is a gradual, sometimes challenging but potentially rewarding process. It may involve reflecting on present and past experiences, recognising unhelpful patterns of behaviour and getting closer to our ‘felt’ sense – vital to both physiological and psychological wellbeing. Engagement in the therapeutic process involves a willingness to be open to the potential of increased self-awareness, which isn’t limited to intellectual understanding, but also to a deeper embodied sense of being. Recent developments in neuroscience have highlighted the profound connection between mind and body, in order to feel grounded and whole, we need to listen to both.
I believe that we all have the potential to grow and flourish, both within ourselves and in our relationships with others. As human beings we will all struggle, at times, to make sense of our experiences, our thoughts and our feelings – the potential and the struggles are closely related, and form the focus for the therapeutic journey.
At the heart of my approach is a respect for each client’s individuality and their personal story. Theories and insights from attachment, psychodynamic and systems theories inform my understanding of the patterns that develop in the way we experience ourselves and relate to others. Humanistic and mindfulness based approaches bring body and mind together, harnessing the body/brain’s intuitive ability to restore a sense of balance. These theories and models, along with current research developments in the fields of developmental psychology and neuroscience, combine to form a framework which supports my work and my compassion for the human ‘struggles’ we may be faced with at different times of our lives.
I adhere to the BACP ethical framework and follow the UKCP code of ethics. My work is supervised in accordance with the guidelines provided by these professional bodies.