How I Work
An integrative approach
I work in an integrative, relational and trauma-informed way, drawing on different therapeutic approaches depending on what feels helpful for you. I don't believe there is one way of doing therapy that works for everyone. We can work together to understand what you are experiencing and find ways of working that fit you.
More than words
Alongside talking, I may invite you to notice emotions, bodily sensations, images, dreams, or other aspects of your experience that can be harder to put into words. I am interested not only in what you think about your life, but also in how you experience it.
Listening to the body
My background in yoga has also given me a longstanding interest in the relationship between our minds and bodies. Sometimes paying attention to what is happening physically can offer another way into an experience that is difficult to express through words alone.
Understanding rather than simply fixing
The ways we learn to respond to difficult experiences often make sense in the context of our lives. They may have helped us manage relationships, protect ourselves or get through challenging circumstances, even if they begin to cause difficulties later on.
Together, we can explore how these ways of responding developed and how they continue to shape your relationships, choices and sense of self. We can also consider whether they are still working for you and what you might want to change.
Sometimes difficult feelings can tell us something about what we need, even when we are not consciously aware of it. Therapy can give you space to become more curious about these feelings rather than judging or pushing them away.
A collaborative process
I will bring my perspective and may gently challenge you when something feels important to explore. At the same time, you set the pace of the work.
I don't see therapy as something I do to you. It is something we create together. There may be moments of uncertainty or difficult feelings, as well as moments when something begins to make more sense.
My role is to listen carefully, help you notice patterns and make connections, and offer another perspective when it may be useful. You remain the person who decides what feels important to explore and what you want to change.
Developing a different relationship with yourself
My aim is not to help you become someone different, but to support you in developing a deeper and more understanding relationship with yourself.
As you begin to understand your experiences and the ways you have learned to respond to them, you may find more space to make choices rather than simply reacting in familiar ways.
Therapy is not about becoming a perfect version of yourself. It is about having more freedom to understand yourself, recognise what you need and decide what you want to change.
You decide what you want to change
Therapy can sometimes help you see things about yourself, your relationships or your life more clearly. That can feel unsettling, especially if you are not sure you are ready for things to change.
Becoming aware of something does not mean you have to act on it. You decide what, if anything, you want to change and when. My role is not to tell you how to live your life or push you towards decisions you are not ready to make.
If you have concerns about starting therapy, we can talk about them.