I describe myself as an “integrative” therapist. This means that rather than strictly following a single theoretical model of how the mind works and how mental distress can be relieved, I draw on a range of ideas including psychoanalytic theory, person-centred and existential theories and cognitive and behavioural models. For me every client is unique and complex in terms of what they bring to therapy and in terms of their personal history. Being an integrative therapist gives me the flexibility to tailor my work to this uniqueness and complexity.

For some men and women embarking on a course of counselling or psychotherapy their primary desire is to gain insight and understanding, which from my point of view might mean working in a more analytical way, helping to sift through what is being said (and not said) and finding meanings and answers. For other clients there may be a desire to actively and consciously focus on changing unhelpful thought patterns or unhappy behaviours – an area of practice known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). At the other end of the spectrum some clients’ journey through therapy will be emotional and freeform, with cues provided by feelings and memories and dreams. Here I will aim to provide a space in which clients feel safe enough to be emotional and freeform but I will also “ground” them back in “the real world” if emotions become overwhelming. These are just three examples. I could have given other, different examples. There is no right or wrong way to do therapy.

I view all clients holistically and somatically: I believe mind and body are part of the same organic system and mental distress is often expressed physically and can often be relieved through physical therapies as simple as taking a walk in the park or lying down in a darkened room and spending ten minutes deep-breathing. If you have a look at my Links page you can connect to further sources of information about practices such as deep-breathing, meditation and mindfulness, which can be used to supplement our talk-based work.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, I’m a “relational” therapist. By this I mean that the relationship between me as a therapist and you as a client is I believe of the greatest importance, which is backed up by research showing that the quality of the client-therapist relationship is the single most significant indicator of a positive therapeutic outcome. I believe that this relationship, when it works and when both therapist and client connect at a deep level, is profoundly healing and helps undo some of the damage that we have all experienced in more troubled and less happy relationships.