Counselling
"The healer you have been looking for is your own courage to know and love yourself completely"
Yung Pueblo
Counselling can help you discover your own resources to implement change in your life, with new ways to manage your problems.
We all have times when certain areas of our lives can feel overwhelming or we get stuck in unhelpful behaviours or thought patterns. Speaking to someone outside our usual support network who is trained and passionate about helping and empowering others can help shine light on new perspectives and ways of coping with whatever is an issue for you.
After studying Psychology and Sociology at University, I gained my Masters in Relationship Therapy from the Relate Institute, and spent five years working for Relate, ‘the relationship people’. Whether that relationship be past or present, with another or with yourself, I am passionate about exploring the patterns of behaviour and feelings that you might be wanting to change.
I am a registered member of the
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Membership number : 00921725.
I adhere to the BACP ethical framework - to read more on this click their logo.
I work using an integrative model, mainly using a combination of psychodynamic theory (focus on inner thoughts and feelings) and systemic theory (which explores interpersonal interactions and the influence of your environment, including society) and a sprinkling of other theories and tools picked up on my personal and professional journey.
​
I also use some Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Compassion Focussed Therapy. One of my favourite outtakes from them is that we all have some form of negative thought at some point - that is normal. The key is how to manage these thoughts, how to accept they are part of being human, whilst at the same time not letting them hinder us from achieving our goals that align with our values.
Achieving this with love and compassion for ourselves and others I believe is another key in aiding this process, allowing us to live a more harmonious, balanced life.
​
Counselling can be like peeling the layers of an onion: all parts have a use (don’t underestimate the value of the skin as compost!) Yet, often not all are needed for the job at hand. By peeling back each layer to examine it, we can learn something new and decide whether to keep, enhance, change or leave behind (with thanks for what we learnt along the way).
​
Often, there are tears at some point too but this is a healthy part of healing and a release of complex biochemical reactions in the body triggered by thoughts and feelings. Better out than in, I say; I strongly believe this about laughter too, which is equally healing.
I find working with the unconscious / higher self / inner child / lost parts of the self to be enlightening and enriching, whether through counselling alone or combined with my other treatment options.
​
Contact me today to find out how I can help you, or book an appointment to get started on your journey.
