My Approach

“A therapy for the client, and not a client for the therapy”
Irvin Yalom

As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of modalities – from person-centred to psychodynamic, CBT to solution-focused, according to what is most useful to you, the client.

I am a qualified counsellor and a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I am listed on the BACP Find a Therapist Directory. I work to the code of standards of the BACP and undertake regular training and personal development to maintain my knowledge and skills. I work with children, young people, adults and family groups.

As an integrative counsellor, the way I work varies depending on the needs and life stage of the client, but the aim is to help you gain new insight, develop more self-confidence, and get to a place where you can make positive plans for the future.

Sometimes we don’t know why we feel so bad, we just know that something is wrong, and sometimes a problematic behaviour – such as avoidance, anger, alcohol abuse, or relationship break-ups can be masking painful past experiences. A psychodynamic approach can be useful to explore how past experiences may have shaped the present and why a person is how they are. Sometimes those insights can be life-changing – once patterns of behaviour are recognized and understood, we can take ownership of them and make an active choice about whether or not we want to, or indeed can, continue in this way. Sometimes solution-focused, or CBT techniques can be used effectively alongside psychodynamic work to look at effective ways to make those changes.

My experience includes counselling at a Women’s Centre, working with issues such as abuse, domestic violence, low confidence, anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship, family and identity issues.

As well as my work with adult clients, I have worked with young people in a variety of educational settings. My experience includes long-term play therapy work in primary schools, working on issues such as bullying, re-locating from a foreign country, confidence-building, dealing with loss, and family issues.

Additionally I have provided short-term therapy for adolescents in a secondary school, and for 16-19 year old students in a college of further education, on issues including domestic violence, friendships, self-harm, bullying, being a carer, sexuality, relationships, family issues and stress. For the last 5 years I have also worked as a counsellor for young apprentices aged 17-19 and I currently work at a family counselling centre supporting children, young people and family groups

Counselling can be short-term, solution-focused, or involve more long-term, in-depth work.  Some people find they just need a few sessions to clarify their situation and perhaps make a decision about a particular problem, whereas others benefit from a longer term approach.

Sessions are weekly, at set times, and last 50 minutes.