Counselling is a type of talking therapy that allows you to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviour in a confidential, non-judgmental and supportive environment.  It is a different type of conversation to the ones you have with family and friends. Although friends and family can be a great support they will often offer advice based on their experiences of life. This can lead to confusion as there may be many conflicting opinions. They are not you – each of us is an individual with our own way of seeing the world!  

My approach is based on an integrative and humanistic model which means that I can integrate different elements of other models and approaches. However, at the heart of my approach are person-centred principles which acknowledge the uniqueness of every individual and believes we all have an inner drive towards personal growth. The model considers the counsellor-client relationship as an integral part of the healing process and I aim to build a relationship where you feel respected, accepted and heard.

Following the integrative approach allows me to be flexible and creative integrating different therapies to offer counselling that meets your needs. I may draw on techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) if you are struggling with unhelpful thoughts and patterns of behaviour. Alternatively, it may be beneficial to integrate psychodynamic counselling, which looks at the influence of the past, particularly childhood and how this impacts on the present day.

Finally, what I won’t do is guarantee to make your life problem free because that is unrealistic and not what counselling is about.  What I will try and do is help you gain a better understanding of the issues causing you problems. I won’t give advice, but I may help you explore the different options to help you cope better with your situation. Whatever you bring to therapy I ensure that therapy is conducted at a pace that is right for you and in a space that is free from judgement.