My Therapeutic Approach
What Will Happen in Therapy?
Beginning therapy can feel strange, particularly if you haven’t experienced it before. To put you at ease, I strive to make my therapeutic space a place of safety, confidentiality and non-judgment, whatever you bring. We will begin your sessions by discussing the reasons why you’ve come to therapy, what you hope to get out of it, and how you’ve recently been coping. This is the first stage in creating a psychological formulation to help you gain a better understanding of things and how to look after yourself as we work together.
What Kind of Therapy is it?
I am an integrative therapist. That means I work with a blend of research-backed and proven modalities, based on your presenting issues and what you want to get out of our time together. See the approaches I use below:
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Person-Centred Therapy
Person-centred therapy (PCT) is a collaborative and empathetic approach that prioritises your unique experiences, feelings, and perspectives. In a non-judgmental environment, we will work together to explore your thoughts and emotions freely. By fostering a trusting therapeutic relationship, person-centred therapy aims to empower you to discover solutions, strengths, and inner resources for personal growth and healing.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Sometimes our thoughts can feel like a stubborn record on repeat, stuck in a negative groove. That's where CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, comes in. CBT helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. By working together, we can identify those unhelpful thinking patterns and challenge them with more realistic and helpful ones. It's like developing a toolbox of mental tricks to manage stress, anxiety, or whatever might be throwing you off balance. With practice, you can learn to take control of your thoughts and build a more positive outlook.
Attachment Theory
Attachment Theory explores how your early experiences with caregivers shape the way you connect with others today. If appropriate, we can work on developing an understanding of how your childhood might be influencing your current relationships. By building a safe and supportive space together, you can explore emotional patterns and develop healthier ways to connect with the people you care about. It's like learning a new dance – with practice, you can create more fulfilling and secure relationships in your life.
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Feeling down on yourself or constantly critical? Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) can help you cultivate kindness, not just for others, but for yourself too. CFT recognizes that we all have a natural capacity for compassion, but sometimes it gets buried by self-doubt and harsh inner voices. Through this therapy, you'll learn to identify these unhelpful patterns and develop tools to soothe and encourage yourself, just like you would a friend going through a tough time.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Life can throw us curveballs, and difficult emotions come along for the ride. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you weather these storms with more flexibility. Instead of fighting your feelings, ACT teaches you to accept them as they are. Through mindfulness exercises, you'll learn to be present in the moment and avoid getting caught up in unhelpful thoughts. ACT also helps you identify what truly matters to you - your values. With this newfound clarity, you can commit to actions that move you closer to a fulfilling life, even when faced with challenges.