Therapy can be deep inner work that can open up things we might not have expected. It can be an exploration and process of self-reflection that takes on a life of its own.
If you are reading this page then you may be wondering whether I am the kind of person and therapist that you need right now.
Even if you think you might benefit from therapy, it may not yet be clear to you how it might help or what you think you need help with. This is fine with me. Often we do not know what we need or what is troubling us, but we know we want to feel different or need something to change.
Considering the kind of therapist who would most suit you is important. There are a huge range of therapies and every individual therapist will also have their own unique style and personality. In addition, having therapy can be a significant investment in time and money, and certainly in trust. I therefore want to invite you to choose carefully.
This can come in many forms, not just loss of a person, job or health. It could also be loss of our youth, loss of opportunities in life, or children leaving home. We may be tipped into a profound transition and period of adjustment, including perhaps an altered sense of identity.
There are many types of trauma and its effects can come in many forms, sometimes a considerable time after the traumatic experience.
This is often a hidden trauma that may become apparent much later in life. Paying attention to the ‘inner child’ may be valuable here, perhaps exploring the shame that can arise early in life and other effects of neglect. These effects can influence our relationships and how we relate to the world. They may lead, for example, to a sense of aloneness and not feeling connected to people.
Past and present, with people (family, partners and friends), or more broadly how we relate to the world or our social environment and culture.
Here I am able to draw on my knowledge and previous experience working as a psychiatrist. Specific areas that we can talk about may include psychiatric diagnosis, psychiatric drugs and experiences of medical coercion and control. Please note however, that my aim is to support people to make sense of their experiences and to make their own decisions, rather than providing a medical opinion or give specific advice.
The spiritual questions we may be exploring or struggling with, or abuse and conflict relating to experiences of organised religion.
Including the struggles people have with not fitting in, with communication and not feeling understood or accepted.
I offer weekly sessions on-line or in person in Gloucestershire. I can work with people long-term but there is no expectation to commit to a certain number of sessions.
My current fee is £65 per 60 minute session.
I abide by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ethical framework.
Please contact me if you would like further information about my terms of agreement, my practice around safeguarding confidentiality (my privacy notice) or anything else that might help you decide whether to arrange an initial session with me.
With a background as a psychiatrist, I have a lot of experience working with people with profound disturbance and distress and who may have been given a diagnosis. This could be a particular focus in our work. My previous professional experience may be useful to draw on.
However, my therapy approach is not one that offers specific expertise or techniques on removing specific problems or symptoms. It is more one of understanding whatever it is that you find troubling in the context of your life and your biography. I see my expertise as the way I listen and understand, and the kind of relationship I would offer you. The theraputic relationship itself is fundamental to how I work as a therapist. I believe it is fundamental to the healing process within therapy. Everything else is secondary.
It is important to me to make a connection with you. I work best with people who are interested in reflecting on their experiences and who want to share responsibility with the therapeutic process we might be engaged in.
I have been trained in a particular approach to therapy called the Person-Centred Approach (PCA). There are some distinctive features of this approach and I recommend taking a look at how I understand and practice the PCA, since this will give you even more of an idea of how I work and what is important to me.
This is an approach to all relationships and life in general, not just to therapy. It is the approach I did my therapy training in and I remain committed to deep understanding and practicing from its core values, principles and theories.
