Working integratively means that I weave together, or integrate, various therapeutic modalities based on what each client needs. I do not apply a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model to the way that I work, because each person is individual and unique. My intention is to tailor the therapeutic experience to your specific needs, hopes, and concerns, depending on who you are, why you’ve sought support, and what you find helpful. I integrate humanistic, existential, psychodynamic, artistic, and body-focused approaches within my work, and feel that humour, play, and creativity can bring life and colour to the therapeutic experience. I believe that humans are instinctually motivated to move towards growth and inner balance, which we share universally with all living things. We may however lose sight of this when the surrounding conditions throughout our lifespan do not support us to thrive or encourage us to look inwards for guidance. The defences and coping mechanisms we establish as a result of this help us survive, but often get in the way of us living meaningfully and contently. Noticing and understanding these defences supports us to build a picture of how they’ve served us in the past and how they may no longer serve us in the present, and gives us insight into how we can begin to explore alternative ways of regulating that work better for us.

Being a relational counsellor means that I hold at the centre of my work the importance of relationality, both within the human experience and within the therapy itself. We are in relationship from the womb, and a crucial part of our existence is based on how we relate to others and communicate our needs. Social contact can be a huge catalyst in shifting and processing trauma and pain, moving us away from isolation and into connection. And yet, we may sometimes find ourselves seeking out relationships or certain forms of contact that are not helpful to us and disconnect us from our sense of self. We may also find that the ways in which we relate with others or with the world keep us isolated and move us away from connection. Being curious about how we relate can give us information about our sense of self-worth and the worth we assign to others, and can shed light on our earliest relationships and how they have shaped us. Working relationally also means that I remain curious of how the therapeutic relationship itself can provide insight into other relationships in one’s life and I will always endeavour to explore this openly in the work. I view therapeutic working as a collaborative and open experience; I may be the counsellor, but you are the expert of your own experience, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the moment.

There is no pressure for you to know what your reasons or hopes for coming to therapy are. You might just want space to vocalise your thoughts and feelings to someone without judgement, or make sense of what you’re going through with someone who will listen. My aim will be to provide you with a safe, warm, and empathetic space where you can bring yourself as you are and explore any issues you are struggling with. This may include anxieties or fears you are battling, certain beliefs, behaviours, or ways of relating that you feel are not serving you, or past events and experiences that are keeping you stuck and hurting. I view the past, present and future holistically and value the importance of exploring how they contribute to each other in their own right. Ultimately, my intention is to facilitate your journey towards a deeper exploration and understanding of self through curiosity, authenticity, and compassion.

The therapy I offer is culturally informed, inclusive, and accepting of the full diversity that is the human experience. We exist across multiple nuanced contexts and systems which are always live in our experience, so it is important to acknowledge the impact of wider systems on our sense of being and belonging and explore these contexts within therapy.