General Approach

For me, psychotherapy is about working with the whole of the person, including the body, mind, emotions and spirit (whatever this might mean to you).

I believe that everyone is unique, so I tailor my approach to meet each person’s individual needs while working at a pace that is right for them.

I see the relationship that develops between therapist and client as a key tool for change.

I see my role in therapy as more of a facilitator than ‘expert’, since each person holds a deeper intelligence that knows where s/he needs to go and how to get there, and will do so given the right conditions of warmth, attunement, safety and empathy.

I see psychotherapy as a form of soulwork. By “soul”, I am referring to that part of ourselves that values depth, mystery, embodiment and relatedness. I believe that the “work” of  psychotherapy is less about self-improvement and fixing problems and more about taking the risk to trust and listen to that part of ourselves that sees beyond the ordinary or everyday. This can enable us to move beyond what we think we know, creating the possibility to live a more meaningful, expanded and embodied life.

Finally, I enjoy working with people in a way that supports them to develop more confidence in their ability to make creative choices, and live more fulfilling, embodied lives.

Influences/Techniques

My general approach is informed by a variety of techniques and influences including: humanistic, transpersonal and psychodynamic perspectives; Buddhist schools of thought; my training in Core Process Psychotherapy; my practice of mindfulness, yoga and dance; my experience of individual psychotherapy; continuing professional development and personal life experiences.

I am particularly interested in the impact of birth processes (including trauma) on personality development and have done a significant amount of further training and research in this area.