Psychotherapy with Me

You are the expert

I see you as the expert on your own life. My aim is to uncover that expertise so that you get the confidence to make choices that will get you to a happier place. I try to understand what is happening in your life, to look at it from your perspective, understand the feelings that are going on for you, help you to work out what is difficult and why, and how change is possible.

I do this by listening attentively to you, with empathy and without judging, to help you to work out what is making you feel unhappy, what is happening in your life that is hindering you and getting in the way of where and what you want to be. I make sure there is a safe space for you to talk, by validating your feelings, by exploring with you what is happening that feels difficult and challenging.

A look into the past to build a better future

We look at times when life feels or has felt better and more manageable and what is different now. I try to work out with you what is causing the difficult feelings or the difficult interactions in your relationships (such as anxiety, stress, depression, sadness, lack of communication). I will try to work out with you what you would like to change, what is possible to change and how that might be tackled.

I will help you think about your coping strategies to work out if they are effective or hindering.

In couple and family therapy you will each be heard in the sessions, both by me and by each other. I will then help you to work out what is important to each of you and what can change, to give yourselves the best chances of having the relationships that you are looking for to give you meaning and fulfilment in life.

A unique approach adapted to your situation

I look for a way forward that feels right to you. I have extensive training and experience in different psychological methods and theories and I will adapt the approach to your unique situation. We may decide that exploring your past relationships and reactions feels right, or it may be that we concentrate on the here and now. Usually it is a blend, with the aim of finding a way forward that feels achievable for you.

In psychotherapy, the experience of hearing yourself talk, hearing your partner or family members talk, of being listened to without being judged, can provide a sense of relief and clarity. This is the first and most important step to a better and more manageable way forward, even if there are things going on that you feel you cannot change or have control over.

My training includes several different theories and methods, psychoanalytical theory, attachment theories, family systemic therapy, emotion focussed therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and more. I incorporate these into my approach, depending on what works for you and your situation.

My clients are from a wide range of cultural, ethnic and social backgrounds.