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How I work

Complex Trauma and Relational Difficulties

High sensitivity and neurodiversity

Spiritual Issues

Breakdown, Burnout, Overwhelm, and Crisis

My role, as your therapist

I think of psychotherapy as a collaborative enquiry; a shared journey. I bring to that collaboration some knowledge of the terrain, the potential pitfalls, the more direct paths.

I also bring what the Buddhists call ‘beginner's mind ’, a sense of openness, trust and respect for the unfolding process, along with a deep, whole-bodied listening for what is trying to unfold.

Relationship

The more people I work with, the more I understand that therapy is about relationship, rather than techniques. And although the therapeutic relationship has particular intention, focus and clear boundaries, it is nevertheless a real relationship. As such, it requires care; it is the container that holds the work.

This is fundamental, as the space needs to be safe and trusted enough to allow in the things that have been hidden previously, even to the self, due to being painful, guilt-inducing or embarrassing.

And as well as being the container, it is also a vehicle through which the work unfolds. It is normal and even welcome, actually, to have strong feelings, both positive and negative, about your therapist. These habitual thoughts and feelings are present in all relationships, but the uncluttered space of the therapeutic relationship provides an opportunity to meet these things and understand the patterns more deeply, so that there can be a movement into a different way of being in relationships.

Other Aspects of the Work

My work is also influenced by the theory of mindfulness: the understanding that awareness is, in and of itself, healing and reorganising.

I introduce space around instinctual patterns and defences to bring about greater regulation, choice, balance, freedom and psychological maturity.

I support a movement towards wholeness: facilitating integration of parts of the self that have become disconnected due to trauma, and facilitating deepening into embodied experience.

I illuminate intention and support the orientation of the will towards alignment with the highest good.

I nurture connection to inherent resources, talents and gifts.

When it supports the work, I integrate embodied meditation and constellations work.

You can find out more about how I work here and about my influences here.