WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?

Relationships can be hard if we have lost our connection to ourselves, others, and the world around us. I work in a relational way which means that I aim to create a space of non-judgement, curiosity and compassion in which we can explore whatever is going on for you together. In the relationship between me and you (this is often called the therapeutic alliance) I aim to emphasise and bring into your awareness, patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviour which even if they have been useful in the past, may be impacting you negatively in the present. As your awareness grows, you learn to know yourself in a different way and insights offer you the opportunity to make different choices in life which serve you better.

As a trauma-informed psychotherapist, I will ask what has happened to you rather than what is wrong with you.

Human beings are all unique, so taking a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. As an integrative psychotherapist, I have knowledge of personality adaptation and attachment theories, Gestalt theory and shame theory as well as neuroscience (how our nervous systems work) to help me better understand each client.

Integration also applies to all the parts of you, your feelings, thoughts and behaviours. During times of stress or trauma, parts of ourselves can become stuck. Integrative psychotherapy can help us learn to be kind and compassionate to those parts of ourselves that we dislike and to understand and honour why they came about.

Psychotherapy is a talking therapy which can help us to grow awareness, make sense of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and develop understanding, acceptance and compassion towards ourselves and others.

Gaining awareness of the patterns of behaviour that we unconsciously repeat is incredibly empowering, it gives us the choice to change or find better ways of coping. The UKCP describe psychotherapy as being ‘different for everyone. Therapy is a safe place to let your feelings out and share what’s on your mind. It can be a relief to talk about something that has been upsetting you. When someone who understands really listens to you, without judgement, it can be very powerful. Feeling heard, seen, and understood can be very moving. You might find yourself crying, getting upset or angry in therapy or between your sessions. This can feel unsettling and intense but your therapist is trained to help you process and cope with the emotions that come up’.