PSYCHOTHERAPY.


My approach to psychotherapy is integrative and by that I mean it draws on a number of influences and life experiences. Theoretically, I describe myself as a relational psychotherapist and draw from both the humanistic and psychoanalytic traditions. My core training was in psychodynamic counselling, integrative therapy and psychoanalytic systemic approaches to couples and groups. My own experience of psychotherapy has been with humanistic, psychodynamic and Jungian practitioners and they have all influenced me in different ways.

 

My framework is integrative and based very much on the approach developed at The Metanoia Institute and the work of Maria Gilbert and Petruska Clarkson. I've developed a model of practice over the years that let me work both briefly and time-limited as well as long-term, open-ended. I'm comfortable working with specific problems as well as with more enduring and complex issues and have a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing. I have experience working in private practice, organisations eg universities and the NHS and am able to work with other healthcare professionals if required.

 

Psychotherapy is not for everyone but I believe that it can provide an alternative means of looking at specific aspects of life or the drama that comes from a whole life.I'm fascinated by the ideas around why we don't allow ourselves to fully engage with all of our lives, or as James Hollis puts it 'stepping up to the plate'.What stops us from taking certain decisions or continually taking ones that keep us stuck? Ultimately it's about our capacity to think about change, maybe to become able to look at other possibilities or just live with who we are.