My approach and how I work

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My aim as your therapist is to gently challenge what might have been in your blind spots, help you join the dots between the past and present. We may also work creatively to explore what might be sitting in your unconscious thoughts and beliefs.

When it's relevant and helpful, I'll offer you psychoeducation along the way.

Furthermore, I'll help you understand what happens in your body when your nervous system is unregulated i.e fight, flight, freeze responses. I'll support you to find what helps you to self-regulate, connect with your body, be present, comfortable in your own skin and at peace.

My role and commitment to you as your therapist is consistency, cultural awareness and sensitivity to society's impact on our lives. I will learn what a psychological safe space means to you.

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As a therapist, I value collaboration and a rational approach.  Respecting your autonomy and supporting your growing self-awareness is important to me. I believe therapy is not effective without trust and openness between myself and my client.

I formally trained in person-centred, gestalt and transactional analysis.

Somatic work in therapy focuses on the connection between body and mind, using and observing bodily sensations, movement or awareness as a way into emotional experiences. Especially where feelings live below conscious thoughts or words.

Many experiences, particularly those linked to stress or difficult events are held in the body rather than fully accessible through speech.

Tuning into physical sensation, movement or breath this work can help release built up tension, increase sense of safety and regulation. Deepen self-awareness and feelings of being grounded as well as better attunement to our intuition. 

The relationship between the client and therapist is unique. The therapy room is your safe space, and you decide what you want to work on. 

Therapy is a joint process and trusting relationship between us is essential to the therapeutic process. I bring my genuine warmth and my authentic self to our sessions, as a human being not just as a professional where we can work together in a safe and compassionate environment that you feel seen, heard and understood. 

Russian Dolls can help can help us access different part of ourselves. 

Therapy Cards, using image or word-based cards to open up conversation around feelings and experiences that can be hard to talk about. This work can help surface feelings, reflection and building language around them. 

Neuro Cards, Exploring clients unique neurodivergent experiences and unexplained emotions through pictures. Naming feelings can help communication with other people.

Pebbles and Shells, natural object to help represent feelings, relationships or experiences. Tactile objects can offer grounding, sensory way to explore what's beneath the surface. Working with these objects can feel calming  and help externalise what's going on inside, see it from different angle and build understanding that feels safe and manageable.

Therapeutic Sandtray Work, using miniature figures and imagery to help explore thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to put into words. Offers access to what's beneath the surface. Sandtray therapy can bring clarity and reduces overwhelm and reveals patterns. Which can bring empowering awareness.

Drawing and Timelines, Sometimes the things can be muddled up in our minds and don't make sense. Putting them on a paper can provide clarity and meaning. 

Clients have the option to explore these creative approaches.

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression and low mood
• Stress and feeling overwhelmed
• Bereavement/ grief and loss
• Loneliness or feeling isolated
• Trauma
• Relationship and intimacy issues
• Family conflict, estrangement and boundary issues
• Gender and sexual diversity
• Emotional, physical and sexual abuse
• Low self-esteem 
• Suicidal thoughts and feelings
• Work and study related pressures
• Identity issues
• Cultural differences and issues
• Mother-Daughter relationship 
• Life stage changes or challenges - e.g fertility issues, miscarriage, pregnancy and parenthood

My private practice is based in a thoughtfully created counselling room located in Teddington TW11 and easily accessible by public transport.

For your safety and peace of mind, I am fully covered by professional liability insurance.

Privacy and confidentiality is a core ethical commitment in my counselling work. 

As a registered member of BACP, I work in accordance with the BACP’s ethical framework and guidelines (www.bacp.co.uk).