How I Can Help

A branch within the humanistic approach believing the client is the expert on themselves. Understanding and looking at your experiences through your perspective to determine how you want to move forward. Another element is providing the right physical and emotional holding environment. This encompasses physically within a therapy room (where applicable) and the relationship with the counsellor themselves. Non-judgement, respect, empathy, and an alignment between the counsellor and client in working together toward the same goal. 

This approach focuses on your potential rather than your problems. Looking at your life as a whole and concentrating the therapy on your personal self-discovery and personal growth in order to overcome challenges or problems. Empathy, understanding and encouragement to explore your personal potential. 

This is the idea that your early experiences impact your current thoughts and behaviours. How you were shaped by your past in the way that you understand yourself and your feelings impacts how you adapt to problems and relationships. We can identify in what way these serve you or no longer serve you in your current situation.

The notion that different parts of ourselves serve different purposes through the use of I-Positions. We are made up of multiple versions of ourselves: parent, spouse, child, sibling, colleague, peer, and contain multiple versions too: creative, energetic, focused, driven, free-spirited etc. It's about noticing these different parts of ourselves and which ones may be present at different times, which may no longer serve us and which may be protective. 

Mindfulness has gained popularity in recent years in different formats such as colouring books, yoga and therapy. Mindfulness is the ability to notice all sensations, feelings, thoughts and your environment without judgement. By helping to identify certain feelings or emotions, we can work toward being reflective to them rather than reactive, choosing a different perspective to how you might be currently experiencing them. 

 Meaning is not gathered, it is made, and the meaning we create through social interactions throughout our lives directly impacts our experience of the world. Society collaborates on experiences and so meaning is constantly being gained and changed. Each culture can have a different construction of what is important and valued to them. Focusing on how your perception impacts your reality can provide insight. It can be helpful to challenge and explore the origins to revise broken or unhelpful narratives.

Creativity can reduce stress, increase enjoyment and provide a calming space for you to gather yourself in the maelstrom of our chaotic world. I believe that everyone is capable of creativity, it might just be buried under layers of societally dictated judgement. Drawing, sculpting, movement, dance, paints, sand, clay, wool, paper, words, music, felt, nature, digital art, you name it! There are endless ways to be creative because creativity comes in many forms. Whether you're naturally gifted or find it more of a challenge, it can support our therapeutic journey and I use it a lot with younger clients. Creativity can boost mood, reduce stress, and even provide insight into your inner workings. 

I believe that the therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client is the most transformative element of the counselling process. It can be difficult to find the "right" counsellor for you but when you find your person it can fast-track your goals and healing journey. Having a good relationship where you feel safe and comfortable enough to be vulnerable is when the real progress happens. 

The idea that every individual is unique and should have a tailored approach to their healing journey and goals. By drawing on different disciplines, techniques and theories it allows me to cater to your individual needs. This is particularly helpful if you are neurodivergent as one size certainly doesn't fit all for us! By using what works and discarding what doesn't, your therapeutic experience is as diverse as your needs. I find it the most collaborative approach, personalised to you.