How I work with clients
I am a qualified integrative counsellor, which means I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches and adapt the work to best suit your unique needs. My background in philosophy and experience teaching mindfulness and Eastern philosophies deeply inform my practice. Together, these influences shape a multi-dimensional approach to therapy that values both reflection and direct experience, helping you connect with yourself on emotional, embodied and existential levels.
Person-centred.
First and foremost, therapeutic counselling is about giving you the space to express yourself in any way you need to, without fear of negative judgement, and with someone who truly listens and empathises with your unique perspectives and life experiences.
Founder of person-centred therapy, Carl Rogers, believed that, like all living organisms, human beings need the right conditions to flourish and reach their potential. A person-centred therapist listens deeply, empathises authentically and offers unconditional positive regard to every client. These conditions provide a strong foundation for healing and growth, helping you feel safe and supported as you explore your experiences.
Mindfulness-based
Mindfulness is rooted in Buddhist philosophy and invites us to meet our experience with awareness and acceptance. Rather than trying to control or avoid emotions, we learn to observe them as passing states. This allows overwhelming feelings to settle naturally and helps us relate to our thoughts with healthy detachment.
Mindfulness goes hand-in-hand with letting go, releasing physical and mental tension, slowing down and rediscovering peace in the present moment. It can be a powerful way to develop calm, personal insight and resilience, allowing life to unfold with greater ease.
Psychosynthesis
Psychosynthesis complements mindfulness by helping us recognise that our thoughts, feelings and emotions are not the whole of who we are, allowing for a sense of distance and detachment. It views the self as made up of many different ‘parts’ or ‘sub-personalities’ which sometimes conflict and create inner tension. We can have many competing thoughts or feelings which leave us feeling internally divided and uncertain about how to move forward.
By allowing each part to express itself without suppression, we can begin to understand our inner world more deeply and integrate these parts into a more harmonious whole. Ultimately, psychosynthesis points us towards recognising the deeper “I”; the pure awareness behind these many aspects of the self. This recognition aligns with insights shared by many Eastern philosophies.
Existential
Existential therapy is empowering because it emphasises our freedom and self-responsibility. While we can’t change the past or many of the limitations we face, we can choose how we wish to move forward. Existential therapy helps us create a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.
Rather than following a strict method, it invites exploration of the questions that make us human: how we live with uncertainty, our awareness of mortality, the experience of isolation and the search for meaning and belonging. Together, we can explore how to live with authenticity and purpose, even when life doesn’t come with a “how-to manual”.
Relational
We are shaped by our relationships with others, particularly in childhood. We internalise many of the opinions and values of those around us, and these continue to influence how we relate to others and to ourselves. These relational patterns often become automatic and sometimes quite unhelpful.
Through relational therapy, we can become more aware of these patterns and how they affect our lives. This awareness can help us develop more compassionate and authentic relationships both with others and within ourselves, creating space for new ways of relating and being.