My Approach to Counselling:

As a pluralistic integrative counsellor I value each client as individual, the expert of themselves, and recognise that as an individual, each client will have different needs at different times during counselling. As such, the therapeutic process involves flexible collaboration, with us working together, and tailoring my approach to each session, to ensure that you are able to achieve what you want from our sessions.

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This can mean that I use different ways of working, from different types of counselling (you can read more here). Specifically, there are 3 main approaches to counselling that I choose to work with, which can and does alter depending on my client and their wants and needs, as I am qualified to use a range of different types of counselling. So, please do enquire if there is a specific approach that you’re interested in that isn’t outlined below.

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• My practice is underpinned by a humanistic, person-centred approach. This means that I value you as the expert of yourself, and recognise your ability to grow and change, given the right conditions. As such I don’t always offer direct advice or give my opinions, but rather offer my warmth, empathy, unconditional understanding and genuineness, to help you find your way forward and achieve the personal growth/development that you desire.

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• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) recognises that the way we think, can impact how we feel and behave. Therefore, CBT aims to change the way you think by challenging unhelpful thinking, and how you behave, by focussing on how these issues impact you currently, and offering practical life-long tools and solutions to improve the way you feel, both in the short and long-term.

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• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) involves developing a mindful relationship with our negative/unhelpful thoughts and feelings, connecting with the present moment and commitment to taking action in line with your personal values. Rather than actively trying to change, stop or avoid unwanted experiences, such as difficult thoughts and emotions, ACT encourages you to accept any negative/unhelpful thoughts or feelings and live in line with your values, to enable you to make the positive changes you desire.

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• As well as the approaches outlined above, I have experience with integrating other modalities, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT - to learn skills, including mindfulness strategies, necessary to regulate strong emotions, tolerate distress and challenging situations and improve relationships)  Compassion-Focussed Therapy (CFT - to develop your ability to be more compassionate towards yourself and others), Solution-Focussed Brief Therapy (SFBT - to focus positively on your strengths, goals, potential to achieve them), Creativity and Mindfulness (to find different ways of expressing difficult emotions, beyond words. This can include making art, using music therapeutically, therapeutic writing, guided imagery/visualisation and guided relaxation/breathing techniques), and Play Therapy (when working with children and young people, to help them express themselves and deal with difficult emotions through play).