Therapy, at heart is a unique relationship between a trained professional and a client.
There are over 400 different approaches in therapy (some examples are – Person centred, Psychodynamic, gestalt, Transactional Analysis.) The choice can seem bewildering – what is going to be the right approach for you? Some therapists train in one approach, my training (Integrative therapy) means I am trained in a number of different approaches and together we can pick and choose which works best for you. Therapy is a journey which may continue for many years. The role of the therapist is to accompany you on that journey. You are the expert in you and the therapist is the expert on the approaches and techniques. We work together to address whatever issues you are having.
The way we are, the ways we behave usually were laid down a long time ago, when we were little, in response to our primary carers, families, society and cultures. These behaviours served us well, and kept us safe and connected. Babies and young children are totally reliant on their primary carers. Many studies have shown how we adapt our behaviour to stay close, whether by people-pleasing, shutting down our emotions, or loudly demanding attention. These behaviours continue into adulthood, sometimes when they are no longer helpful or acceptable.
There are numerous schools of thought and approaches to therapy and coaching. However, the research is clear – no one approach is better than another. The one thing that has been proven to work is the quality of the relationship between therapist/coach and client, and this relationship is at the core of how I work. My aim is to be a warm, compassionate and honest companion on your journey.