How I Work
My approach is rooted in person-centred therapy, which means that our starting point is always you: what is happening in your life, what matters to you and what you would like to be different. You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong, what you should talk about or even what kind of therapy you need. Part of my role is to help us make sense of that together.
In sessions, there is space to bring whatever feels important. That might be something happening in your life now, something from the past, or something you can't quite make sense of yet. I listen closely and keep track of the wider threads in our work. I may notice connections between things you've told me, reflect something back in a different way, or follow my curiosity when something seems important. Over time, we can begin to build a fuller understanding of what is happening, what may have shaped it and what might help things change.
Different ways of working
Much of my work is relational and exploratory, but that doesn't mean it is entirely unstructured.
At times, something more practical or focused can be useful. We might look at what happens in the nervous system during stress or anxiety, explore ways of grounding yourself when things feel overwhelming, or think together about how you want to approach something difficult in your life. We might also explore patterns such as perfectionism or finding it difficult to put your own needs first, and how these affect you in everyday life.
I draw on different therapeutic ideas where they are useful, while keeping the person-centred relationship at the heart of the work. What we do can therefore change over time depending on what is happening and what seems most helpful.
When insight isn't enough
Sometimes making sense of something changes how we feel about it. At other times, we can have a great deal of insight into why we react as we do and still find ourselves having the same emotional or physical response. This is one of the situations where EMDR can be useful.
If something you describe makes me think EMDR might help, I may suggest it and explain what I'm noticing and why I think it could be useful. We can then decide together whether it is something you would like to explore.
If you come to me specifically wanting EMDR, we will consider that from the beginning. EMDR doesn't replace the talking part of therapy. We might spend a period of time working more directly with particular experiences and then return to predominantly talking therapy, or move between the two as the work develops.
Your first session
We'll begin with a few practical things: the limits of confidentiality and any questions you might have about my therapy agreement. Then I'd like to hear a little about what has brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to gain from our time together.
If you've come because of an experience that is distressing to you, please know that you don't need to tell me any more than you feel ready to in the first session. We can go at your pace.
If you've come to me specifically for EMDR, we'll begin by taking some time over the first few sessions to understand your history and what you would like us to work on.
How often will we meet?
There isn't one frequency that suits everyone. Weekly sessions can help to build momentum and are often a good way to start, while fortnightly sessions might suit you better.
We can review how often we meet as the therapy progresses. The frequency can change over time depending on what you're working on, what you need from therapy and what feels manageable for you.
I work in an open-ended way, so there isn't a predetermined number of sessions or a set amount of time you should be in therapy.
Working online
I offer online counselling, psychotherapy and EMDR to adults across the UK. Research suggests that therapy delivered by video can be as effective as face-to-face therapy, with the added convenience of being able to attend from your own home.
Online therapy means there is no travelling to and from appointments, and it can make sessions easier to fit around work and other commitments. It also gives you the freedom to choose a therapist based on who feels right for you rather than who happens to practise nearby.
I've undertaken additional training specifically in online and telephone counselling and have worked extensively with clients online since 2021.
You don't need to work all of this out beforehand
You don't need to decide whether you need counselling, psychotherapy or EMDR before contacting me. You also don't need to know exactly why you're struggling or what you want to talk about first. We can begin with where you are and work out the rest together.
If you'd like to see whether we might be a good fit, we can start with a free 15-minute introductory call.