My approach to psychotherapy

It is common that people find themselves stuck, whether this is with a way of thinking, a pattern of behaviour, a body symptom, or a feeling state, such a depression or anger. I am interested in understanding my clients from an holistic perspective. So rather than focusing upon presenting symptoms, or making diagnosis and finding a way for the mind to control 'it', I believe that deep change is possible when all aspects of our self are attended to.

As well as listening to clients' stories or narrative, I also pay close attention to the way the human body responds to trauma whether past or present.

I am also interested in how the felt self can be known or related to, and finding ways to bridge the internal to the external world through self expression and communication.

Whilst I offer a 'talking therapy' I am aware that finding words to express our inner thoughts and feelings may not come easy, words and language may also present limitations for expression. So I am also interested in non-verbal connections with internal or unconscious processes. I am an experienced expressive arts practitioner using clay, sand tray, voice, poetry and creative writing to enable a deeper connection with the self and explorations of identity, relationship patterns and dynamics, and the creation of safe oases.

I believe our relationship to our body is vitally important. Our body is where overwhelming feelings take place. It is not surprising that many people wish to cut off from unpleasant or frightening feelings and attempt to control them. Designed for survival, humans have evolved with a highly complex and sophisticated system in order to manage the impact of threats to our safety whether emotional, physical, real or imagined. So people are very good at developing mechanisms that enable them to cope with daily life but unfortunately some of this methods get out of balance or become unhealthy or counterproductive. Threats to our safety can be experienced at any point in life from conception and may be remembered unconsciously in our body or triggered at a later date by similar sensory experiences. So work may also pay attention to the connection to and awareness of the body and in particular the ways tension or trauma may be held or communicated by the body as 'symptoms'.

Understanding the way trauma impacts upon the body is a major step towards managing fear, anxiety and panic. I encourage clients to become more attuned to their body through mindfulness exercises and 'focusing'.

With greater kindness clients are able to forge a relationship to themselves and their body and integrate new coping strategies that demonstrate self compassion.

I am also interested the way we are impacted by the legacy of trauma experienced by previous generations for example how values, beliefs, behaviour, and taboo become entrenched. I help clients to identify patterns and relational dynamics that may be stifling or impinging upon growth or harmony. Offering nurturing support and space to heal clients are able to recognise their role in maintaining a position of constraint and begin to develop confidence to make choices about becoming an active agent of change.