Often, people come to therapy when our ways of being that once seemed to support, are breaking down or have already led to other problems. Overworking or perpetual busyness, addictions, repeated relationships that turn out to be unhealthy, all disable our capacity to tend to our wellbeing, a loud inner critic may wield control and drive us to continue to believe that if we ‘try harder’, ‘work harder’, ‘be more perfect’ that we will feel OK.  We may be questioning the meaning or purpose in life, not feeling connection to others, nor experiencing any joy or inner peace: depression, anxiety or physical health issues may have developed as a consequence.

In the past, we may have needed to adapt within our families, schools or environments to ‘belong’ or ‘fit in’ or learned ‘to please others’ or ‘to not feel’ to have any hope of being loved, accepted or even to feel safe, and as a result we may have lost our connection with a sense of who we really are, and our true potential. One of the most important aims of therapy is to learn how to rebuild our connection with our ‘Self’ so that we can fully accept ourselves, become our own best friend: one who cares for, loves and encourages us to re-member who we really are and to be the best version of who we want to become.

Therapy supports a process whereby we can transform the issues that have brought us to therapy in the first place.  

We can learn kindness and acceptance for who and how we are, discovering our real values and develop willingness to listen and respond to our true calling. Healing the roots of the issues that have become manifest and hindered our connection to our true essence enables us to step into relationship with our self and others authentically and into the world more resolute. A sense of meaning and purpose can be renewed, we might experience a sense of inner alignment, achieve more balance between being and doing, and harmony between learning, growth and self-mastery inspired.

Sessions are 55 mins in duration unless otherwise agreed.

There are times in therapy where we need to explore difficult or painful things. Turning towards what is or has been painful can be counterintuitive as we are ‘wired’ to turn away from both physical and emotional pain, but the purpose of undertaking deep work is to transform it so that it is no longer painful nor continuing to affect you in the present.

It is important to remember too, that often in the past we have felt alone in our pain, and in therapy we work together to support deep healing and transformational change.

These terms are often used interchangeably in the UK.  Psychotherapy might offer a more in-depth approach and the time involved might be longer.  Both counsellors and psychotherapists undertake core training and many, as I have have continued to further and develop their skills by their commitment to their ongoing learning.