What is therapy?

What is therapy?

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We all go through difficult times throughout life, some more challenging than others, and these can lead to all sorts of feelings; anxiety, depression, anger, fear.  They can also trigger past traumas and cause us to behave in ways that are not only disruptive to our wellbeing but that can also cause us further distress and trauma.  

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Our body and minds are very clever.  They're good at developing coping behaviours or strategies (also known as defences) to deal with these stresses.  These defences can be a useful and much needed survival tool in times of distress however sometimes we keep hold of these behaviours because they feel familiar and safe when in fact they're actually only adding to our pain. 

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The aim of therapy is to provide a safe and contained space to explore these feelings, behaviours and traumas and find a way to manage them so they are easier to live with and have less of a negative impact on our life.

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How do I work?

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I work in an integrative way.  That means that I don't have a 'one method fits all' style and instead use a range of different therapeutic styles meaning that each session is as unique and individual as my client's circumstances.  I integrate a mixture of Person Centred and Psychodynamic methods into my counselling as well as using processes from Transactional Analysis and Internal Family Systems.  This means that I focus on my client's current feelings and behaviours as well as explore childhood experiences that may have shaped the way they react to present day situations. 

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By working through past and present traumas together the aim is to help clients explore the parts of themselves that are causing distress and find a way to work with these parts so they don't cause as much damage and are easier to manage.

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If you would like to start your therapeutic journey then I have the time, patience and compassion to walk with you through the light and the dark and help you find a safer place and way of being.