How I Work

I see clients on a 1:1 basis

During the first session we look at what your presenting needs are; we discuss your difficulties and how best to work with them. We will decide whether this will be short term counselling to look at a specific issue or more long term work which will allow you to experience a deeper level of awareness and understanding.

Most of our work will be discussion and guidance through your thoughts and feelings. We will explore any negative thoughts to bring resolution to conflicting and confusing thought patterns, with the aim of reducing anxiety or lifting depression.

Many clients present with feeling ‘stuck’ and not being able to move forward in life. This can feel very uncomfortable and needs to be worked through rather than avoided. I help you look at where you are in life and how you could move forward.

The transpersonal model in which I have primarily trained is an ‘integrative’ model. I can therefore use my experience and training to find the best therapeutic tools to help you achieve your aims.

Therapy is mostly client-led, allowing you to choose how much depth you want to go to. Some clients just need to talk out their problems and be guided towards a solution. Others come for a specific reason and need to go deeper. Below are some of the ways in which I will help you if I feel it is appropriate.

The transpersonal covers all aspects of the Self, looking at mind, body and spirit, and how they are interconnected. Work might include the creative use of visualisations, dream work, drawing or breathwork.

I work with how the sounds we hear in our life and the sounds of the past have affected us. This can be anything from the sound of a person shouting to the screech of a car braking as well as the soothing sounds which help bring calm and a sense of security.

CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) can be used as part of the therapy, looking at negative automatic thoughts (NATS) and the feelings (emotions) that they create. This is combined with how we then experience those feelings on a physical level. We can then work towards changing behaviour and thought patterns.

Somatic Experiencing – Many people have experienced traumas in their life. We ‘somatise’ negative energy which can make us physically and mentally ill. By connecting with our innermost feelings, and recognising where they come from, we can release past hurts and allow ourselves to move forward in life with greater acceptance.

Trauma. If we go back into our traumas straight away this may cause more trauma. It is important to ‘touch in’ to our experiences once we have mastered how to stay calm, balanced and grounded. To do this we need to understand and recognise how trauma activates our nervous system, and what we can do to prevent the negative emotions and reactions that can be brought to the surface. For this reason we learn about breathing patterns, posture, physiology and anatomy before we work into more depth. Learning about the Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges) is crucial to understanding our traumatic reactions. We need ways to keep us grounded in the present, to find an ‘anchor’ which we can go back to and feel safe. Only then can we find a way to connect with the world and have a fulfilling life.

Breathwork – Over the millennia the way we breathe has changed and many people now breathe mostly through their mouths. The nose was designed as a filter to prevent bacteria entering the body. It hydrates and warms the air we breathe in, helping the exchange of gasses. The depth and speed at which we breathe, and how much of the lungs we use, affects all our internal organs including our heart and brain. We actually increase our anxiety or depression depending on how we inhale and exhale. Different breathing exercises can be taught to learn how to improve physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The yogic traditions have done this for years, combining movement and posture to bring added benefit and correction of anatomical alignment. We can work with the breath sitting, standing or lying down to bring awareness and reparation of the respiratory system and more. Our mental health can improve considerably by having a regular breathwork practice.

Breath and Sound – anyone who wants to work on a deeper level, connecting with emotions and transforming in a safe, healing way will benefit from ‘sounding’ out the energy locked inside. This is ‘soul’ work, exploring what cannot be put into words but needs to be unstuck, to be freed. We may start by focusing on a thought or image, or work through the major energy centres in the body (chakras) to sense into the body which holds all our emotions, but negative and positive. Anyone struggling with moving forwards in life may benefit from this work.