Therapy : How I Work
Therapy with me is a collaborative process. You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to talk about, or with everything neatly worked out. We can begin with whatever feels most present for you.
Sometimes we may explore what is happening in your life now. At other times, we may notice patterns in relationships, ways of coping, or past experiences that still shape how you feel or relate now.
I may ask questions, reflect something back to you, or gently draw attention to something I notice. I also work experientially, which might mean noticing what is happening in the moment, including emotions, bodily sensations, or responses that can be hard to put into words.
I believe therapy works best when there is room for compassion, empathy, honesty, curiosity and not always having all the answers. We work at your pace, guided by what feels important to you. Together, we can pay attention to how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself, relate to others and move through the world.
What We Can Explore Together
Therapy can be a space to explore whatever feels important to you, including relationships, attachment, trauma, grief, identity, self-worth, shame, boundaries, loss, feeling stuck or patterns that seem to be repeating.
You don't need to arrive with a clear goal or a particular story to tell. Sometimes therapy begins simply with a sense that something doesn't feel quite right, or that you want to understand yourself more deeply.
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Person-Centred Therapy is at the heart of my work. This is a belief that you know your own experience better than anyone. I aim to offer empathy, acceptance and a genuine relationship where you can explore what matters to you at your own pace. We may notice conditions of worth, the messages or expectations you may have absorbed about who you need to be in order to feel accepted or valued.
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Gestalt brings attention to what is happening in the here and now. We may notice emotions, bodily sensations, patterns or responses as they emerge, helping you become more aware of how you experience yourself, others and the world around you. This can sometimes bring attention to unfinished experiences or ways you may have learned to protect yourself.
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Transactional Analysis can help us make sense of familiar patterns in how you think, feel and relate. We may explore ego states, life scripts, early messages or roles you have taken on, and how these may still influence the way you see yourself and relate to others today.
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Relational, Attachment-Aware and Trauma-Informed. I pay attention to how relationships and difficult experiences may have shaped the ways you protect yourself, connect with others and understand yourself. The relationship we build together can also become part of the work, offering space to notice and explore patterns as they emerge between us.
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Experiential and Somatic. Sometimes words are not enough. I may invite you to notice what is happening in your body, emotions or in the moment between us, helping us to stay close to your lived experience rather than only talking about it from a distance.