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About Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling and psychotherapy enables us to think together about the kind of person you are and how you would like to be.

We will look at how you consciously experience yourself but also at the unconscious ways you think, feel and act, things you may not be aware of.

It is often helpful to work with dreams since they can help increase understanding about our lives.

The ways we relate to other people are often not thought about consciously. We frequently continue patterns of behaviours learnt from our childhood. This may be parents, carers and siblings but can be anyone who was very important to us, such as a grandparent.

I provide a safe and containing place where we can think together about your life, and ways you might change destructive or unhelpful patterns.

Our aim would be to help you get the most from love, your creativity and work.

With many years of experience, both in private practice and the NHS, I am able to help with a wide range of issues.
I work with both individuals and couples on an open-ended basis or for an agreed time period. The aim is to enable you to enhance your life and to live it more fully. I also offer supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists.
For the differences between counselling and psychotherapy please read the FAQ section of this website.

How do we work together?

Your first appointment. Most people prefer to phone or e-mail to arrange a mutually convenient time for the first appointment. When we meet, I will carry out a full assessment with you to help me understand your past experiences and relationships and how they may be affecting your life today. We will think about what leads you to therapy right now. We will then discuss your relationships as an adult and your experiences at work and in life. We will also look at how you experienced your early relationships and childhood. Where appropriate, we might also discuss any recent or recurring dreams. If there has been any trauma in your life we can begin to help you feel safe to discuss the difficulties.
All your sessions are confidential. Developing trust is important so I provide a non-judgmental space for you to talk freely.

This initial meeting gives you a chance to see if you would like to work with me. We then commit to meeting weekly at a regular time. This will be your space and it is kept for you every week. Each session lasts fifty minutes. I usually see people once a week, sometimes more often. Depending on your individual needs, therapy can be open ended or short term and at a frequency of once, twice or three times a week.