General Therapy
Life is an ongoing journey of ups and downs and unfortunately we don’t arrive in this world with a handbook explaining how to manage our personal challenges.
As children we absorb everything we are told by others and create our self-concept based around this information. Some of these messages are hugely beneficial while others are not so useful and if left to take root can prevent us becoming the fully functioning person we are capable of being. We can become weighed down by our own negative beliefs resulting in an unfulfilled existence.
Beginning therapy can be a difficult step to take, yet working with a therapist can be a really helpful way to explore thoughts and feelings which may otherwise feel daunting, shameful or embarrassing. Being in therapy gives you the chance to offload, explore new avenues and reach a deeper understanding about yourself and your situation - in a safe and confidential space.
Reasons For Coming
You may have reached a point where your life has taken a turn for the worse or perhaps you’ve decided you can no longer go on feeling the way you always have. Perhaps you want to make sense of a current relationship or situation or you are feeling overwhelmed by illness, grief or other losses. There are many reasons why people access therapy, all equally valid.
Whatever your problem, specific issue, behaviour or feeling, with the right therapeutic conditions you can embark on a journey toward powerful personal change and healing.
Working Together
It takes a great deal of courage to seek help and as your therapist it is my job to put you at ease and to be alongside you during your own personal journey of self exploration. It is not for me to lead you or advise but more to facilitate you in your increasing self awareness. I have an honest, warm, empathic approach. I will gently challenge you at times if I believe it to be useful for your personal growth. I abide by the ethical guidelines and principles set out by the BACP and I am also registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office in line with GDPR 2018. I offer you the assurance of a confidential service.
Finding the right therapist for you is extremely important as you need to feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings. Therefore I offer an introductory session free of charge, this gives us the chance to get to know each other and for you to get a feel for how I work. We can then decide whether we'd like to work together..
I am happy to work with you for a fixed short term contract of 6 weeks or a longer term contract if you would prefer. It is entirely up to you how you want to progress, this can be discussed in our first session and of course, nothing is set in stone!
I will check in with you at regular intervals throughout your therapeutic journey. This gives us the opportunity to evaluate your on-going experience and a chance to introduce various ways of working.
Undertaking therapy is a personal choice and no two people have the same therapeutic experience. It is my job to facilitate you to explore your issues in the safest way possible for you. You are the expert on you, with this in mind I will work with you respectfully, gently and considerately.
Who I work with
I see many different people with a variety of issues, I am open to whatever you want to bring. I have a particular interest in:
Chronic Illness Having worked as a Nurse for over twenty five years I have a vast knowledge of illness and the effects a diagnosis of chronic illness can have on emotional health. I am able to empathise with people who have long term illness due to my experience and knowledge of disease which I think offers a different and useful dynamic when working with a therapist. I am also interested in the mind-body connection in relation to illness and work with clients to connect unprocessed trauma with current day illness.
Young people (14-25)I have worked extensively with clients from this age group both in my Nursing career where I specialised in teenage contraceptive & sexual health and also in my role as a therapist. I worked for 3 years as a therapist for the British Institute of Modern Music in Brighton where I saw young clients (16-25 years) with various presenting issues including self-esteem, anxiety, LGBTQIA+ and relationship issues to name a few. I have completed extra training in youth counselling (young people aged 11-17) via the BACP accredited course at Dunamis, East Sussex.
Bereavement and loss I have a wealth of experience with death and dying both in my career as a Nurse but also in my role as a Therapist where I worked for a 2 year period offering counselling to grieving clients at St Peter and St James Hospice. Grief is an extremely personal and unique experience and can be associated not only with death but with all loss. It is essential as a therapist to meet the client where they are on their grief journey; mourning can not be rushed.
However my subject area for counselling is not exhaustive and I am open to what ever you want to bring.
Weight Loss Coaching I have a particular passion for this area of my work. Head to my page for Weight Loss Coaching
