Counselling

As an integrative counsellor I believe one approach to therapy does not always fit for everyone, therefore, it is important to combine several modalities and techniques to best suit each individual client. By having the knowledge of several modalities gives me the ability to adapt each session to meet the needs, wants, expectations and personality of each individual client, offering a tailor made therapy experience. This ensures each client receives the best possible support from me.

I pride myself in being congruent, transparent and honest whilst offering a safe space for you to explore your inner most thoughts and emotions in a non-judgemental environment. I believe everyone needs to feel safe and secure prior to opening up at a deeper level, trusting the space and me with what they are experiencing. Although I offer several techniques of working, this is all built upon my foundations of the relationship between client and myself. By building a positive, trusting relationship where the client is not judged, enables them to be honest to both themselves and me, opening up to growth, awareness and change.

I will never take for granted the courage it takes for a person to explore issues which are difficult to talk about.   

The modalities I work with are:

Person Centred Therapy

Person Centred Therapy is the foundation to all my approaches. I use these tools, techniques and beliefs to ensure you feel comfortable and safe to explore your inner most thoughts and emotions. This enables you to build upon your self-esteem, confidence, and beliefs in yourself to become a happier version of you.

Person centred therapy or talking therapy, as it is also known, stems from the therapy and beliefs of Carl Rogers who suggests when a person feels safe, heard and understood they are able to express a deeper level of themselves within therapy. 

Solution Focused Approach

This technique focuses on a desired outcome you may have. Solution focused therapists believe you know what you want and how to get there but need a little support to establish this. We can all achieve anything we set if we have believe in ourselves, therefore, by removing any hurdles and obstacles, giving a different perfection of a situation, we can achieve any goal we desire.

By using specific questions and talking techniques the I will guide you to achieving their goal. This therapy feels focused, motivated and empowering, by setting small achievable goals each session. When achieving your goals you will quickly start to feel in control of yourself and your life.

Solution Focused therapy is a brief, goal orientated modality which is directed and based upon finding solutions to problems. By  drawing upon your own expertise, alongside structured questions, gives you the ability to explore your strengths and desires to reach your personal goals.

The technique works well when someone wants to achieve something but doesn’t know where to begin, or maybe has a goal but feels stuck and surrounded by obstacles and challenges, or perhaps there is a desired change but you are unsure what that looks like. Whatever your reason we can work together to ensure you feel empowered, motivated, and in control.

Motivational Interviewing

This method focuses on change by drawing from your motivation and awareness. I use techniques to support you in establishing your goals and aims in life. I will work in a directive manner, using questions to establish your readiness, ability and willingness to change. Collaboratively, we will work together to highlight the desired goal and any hurdles or barriers which may stop you from achieving your goal. The therapy has an empowering feel, leaving you felling motivated and ready to achieve your desired outcome.

Sometimes in life we feel stuck and unable to continue. Motivational Interviewing helps you to see things from a different perspective, giving you a different awareness of the situation with support, motivation and feeling empowered to continue.

Motivational Interviewing can help in many situations in life where we feel stuck and unsure of what to do next. A change in behaviour or taking the first step can be scary. This modality works particularly well when wanting to stop an addiction, such as smoking, alcohol or drugs.

Brief Therapy

Brief therapy focuses on the solution, rather than the problem. This enables the therapy to be quick with a short time frame. Some people believe there is no point focusing on the problem as that keeps you in your negative mind and keeps the cycle of negative thinking going. Therefore, by breaking the cycle and focusing on something more positive has a tremendous positive impact on ourselves and our lives. Once we feel more positive we can see things in a rational way, enabling us to make relevant changes to ourselves and our lives.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy explores your life as a whole, including your body, mind, spirit and emotions.

By exploring your physical health, emotional health, mental health, environmental health and spiritual health can highlight areas that you may be struggling with which is impacting you as a whole. This can highlight areas you are not aware of or how it is being impacted by something.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Approach to OCD Recovery

Counselling is a successful way to overcome Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I work holistically with you, initially exploring all areas of your life to establish the obsessions, compulsions and thinking which encourages the OCD to continue. I will give you a greater understanding of the brain and why you are experiencing OCD. We will then start to work on overcoming OCD by follow a method and a structured plan which is unique to you. OCD can impact us in many different ways, some which you may not be aware of, therefore, it is important to understand how it impacts you and those around you prior to overcoming them.

Many people feel shame and anger towards themselves when experiencing OCD. However, once I explain that OCD is brain driven and not self driven, where control and survival is our brains ultimate aim then the shame can reduce allowing you to challenge the thoughts and compulsions.