My approach to psychotherapy

The approach I use when working with clients is rooted in the humanistic-experiential approaches of both person-centered and emotion-focused therapies. In other words, I believe that everyone is born whole and worthy, with an innate potential. The therapy I offer helps you to realise your potential and enables personal growth into your best self.  I will create a safe, non-judgemental and collaborative space to help you to identify and explore the obstacles which prevent you from realising your true potential by exploring your experiences, your emotions, your social and cultural pressures and general beliefs about yourself and the world. I am also passionate about the current findings of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), referred to at times as the science of being human and its application to psychotherapy.

My approach to psychotherapy can help, for example, when:

• You are going through challenging changes or events in your life (e.g. loss/grief, separation/divorce, change of job, relocation to another city or country).
• You are experiencing difficulties in your relationship.
• You are experiencing periods of low mood or anxiety.
• You have noticed a recuring pattern in your life or in yourself that you are puzzled about and would like to change.
• You would like to understand yourself better.
• You would like to communicate your thoughts and feelings better.
• You have experienced trauma and/or neglect in your childhood and you are aware that it still affects your health and relationships.
• You want to grow and develop into your best self.
• You want to experience the richness of life.
• You would like to look at the obstacles that are causing you distress and holding you back in life.
• You would like to find better ways of regulating your emotions in personal and professional environments.

What can you expect will change after the therapy:

• You will be more aware of your thoughts, emotions and internal processes.
• Your brain, body and mind will be better integrated.
• You will be more aware of how your brain, mind and nervous system work and be able to apply this knowledge to improve the relationship you have with yourself and others.
• You will communicate better.
• You will be more assertive.
• You will learn how to develop and maintain healthy psychological boundaries.
• You will improve your emotional literacy.

My approach is not suitable for individuals struggling with:

• Personality disorders
• Eating disorders
• Alcohol and/or drug addiction
• Schizophrenia or psychosis

What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

On occasions, my clients will ask me if the work we will be undertaking is defined as counselling or psychotherapy. My answer is usually “It depends.…”

Some practitioners and even the professional body BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy), with whom I am registered with, use both terms interchangeably. Many practitioners prefer to use the term counselling mainly because “having psychotherapy” still carries the stigma of being perceived as defective or mentally ill for a lot of people. I remain mindful about the perception and emotional load of both words, however I make a distinction between them based on what clients want to achieve as a result of the work we are undertaking together.  Counselling, in my opinion, is problem related, big or small, and is more focused on content and client difficulties. Psychotherapy tends to be focused on personality, character, experience, and internal processes. For example, I would offer counselling to someone who is seeking help in order to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. As one of my clients beautifully described it, my role in this context is more of a witness on their journey through grief. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, would be more appropriate if a client is aware that past traumas or experiences are affecting how they relate with their partners and children and they would like to change it. As the context of each client’s difficulties is important, quite often we start with counselling and as the work progresses and goes deeper into clients’ internal processes, it changes into psychotherapy. Another way of looking at the difference between the two, is to think of counselling as helping people cope, to manage a situation or issue. Psychotherapy can be seen as a way to change our approach to life and relationships, facilitating personal growth and helping us to develop into more mature human beings.