My approach
I’m drawn to the question of how people come to live as they do—the patterns that shape their relationships, the conflicts they cannot seem to resolve, the ways they feel stuck without knowing why.
I am conversational and I believe in speaking my mind openly and honestly. I see therapy as a dialogue between patient and therapist where both work together in an effort to discover what is going on. Therapy is a relationship, regardless of whether it takes place for just one month or over the course of many years. I therefore use the first session as an opportunity for us to mutually assess whether the 'fit' works well for both of us.
You can read about my background and training on the About me page.
Why psychotherapy?
Response to a crisis
In my experience, most people seek psychotherapy as a result of a personal crisis. Something in their lives has gone wrong and brought them to a point where they are no longer able to use their old coping mechanisms. The internal balance has been disturbed. Sometimes the reasons for the personal crisis are obvious: divorce, death or financial difficulties. At other times the trigger is not clear, yet the person experiences emotions and feelings that may be unbearable. Symptoms can include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, disturbed sleep, or general feelings of unhappiness.
Getting to know yourself better
It is also true that some people choose to start psychotherapy because they feel that it’s time to do so – they want to take the opportunity to get to know themselves better and they experience the desire to find out what makes them tick. Unfortunately, this is the exception rather than the rule, and most people arrive at my rooms because they feel they have no choice.
Questions and difficulties that may be explored in therapy
- Divorce and separation
- Depression, panic attacks and anxiety
- Major life changes
- Childhood and adult trauma
- Self-destructive patterns
- Relationships with others
- Your relationship with yourself
- Recurring difficulties in everyday life
- Self-awareness and personal choice
What therapy can offer
Being in therapy is an opportunity to find out more about who you are. It may bring significant changes, or it may help make things more understandable and manageable.
As understanding develops, you may become more aware of patterns that no longer serve you, and better able to make choices about how you respond. The process and its effects are different for each person.
I explore finding a therapist, different ways of working and the therapeutic relationship in About psychotherapy, including the example of Mr Jones.