People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don't find myself saying, "Soften the orange a bit on the right hand corner." I don't try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds.
― Carl R. Rogers
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is usually longer, deeper work exploring and understanding the root causes of your difficulties.
You can come with a specific issue you would like to start with or you can have just a desire to work towards a better experience of your life.
Chronic or complex issues could be particularly unravelled in psychotherapy, often by exploring how early life experiences shape later life. This could be liberating work for many people struggling alone with reccurring difficulties.
The relationship between the client and the therapist is key for psychotherapy. It serves as a tool to reflect and understand your relational patterns outside the therapy room. Frequently it is in relationships where the clients want to see positive changes the most and the therapeutic relationship will help to address this area.
I practice in an integrative framework - this means there is not just one theory and practice that underpins my work. I draw on a number of therapeutic traditions to find the approach which suits your needs. Amongst them are psychodynamic theory and practice, Gestalt therapy, Transactional Analysis and the Person-Centred approach to therapy.
I approach the psychotherapeutic work creatively acknowledging the power of arts and imagination to shift unhealthy patterns or offer a deeper connection with difficult areas of your life experience. This is always an open invitation, not a requirement.
Counselling
Counselling is short-term, focused work for people who have one or two particular areas of concern that they would like to work through.
It is usually twelve sessions. However, sometimes people start with six sessions and then decide if they would like twelve. You may be asked to identify particular goals so that you can get the most out of it. This should not limit your counselling experience – it is quite common for goals to change after the first few sessions and you can review this with your therapist if needed.
If at the end of twelve sessions you feel like you would like to continue and explore deeper issues, you can discuss this with your therapist.
During your counselling session you will have the chance to discuss any feelings and emotions that you are currently experiencing. Your counsellor will listen carefully and try to understand things from your perspective to help you explore different options and possibilities. Together, you will review regularly to see if the counselling is addressing your goals effectively.
I put great importance in approaching things creatively. I am trained to use the arts and imagination to help people work through areas where they are feeling stuck. At times you might find that you cannot find the words to explain how you are feeling. I may invite you to explore this using creative media – this is always an invitation, not a requirement.