Counselling & Psychotherapy
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung
What is counselling and psychotherapy?
In the UK, counselling and psychotherapy are not protected terms and are sometimes used interchangeably. On my website and on this this page, I refer to them collectively using the term “therapy”.
Counselling is often described as more short-term and is usually focused on one area or concern that is more immediate; i.e. bereavement counselling.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is often longer-term and more in depth. It involves exploration of longstanding issues like childhood trauma and experiences, complex mental health challenges, understanding the unconscious and a deeper exploration of the past. This work is usually longer term.
People usually seek therapy for a number of reasons. Some want to improve their mental health, others seek to understand or work through difficult experiences, while many want to better understand themselves. Many people believe therapy is for those who are distressed; but there is no single reason to seek out therapy. I strongly believe everyone deserves to have a safe space dedicated to themselves and a chance to have their voice heard.
What do I provide?
I provide both long-term and short-term therapy.
I provide face-to-face sessions from two locations in Central London (W1S and EC4A). I also provide online sessions using Zoom.
For information about my fees please have a look at this page.
What is my approach?
I trained as an integrative psychotherapist. This means that I draw from the different approaches I have trained in to tailor my approach to each individual client, keeping their needs in mind. The way I work is largely influenced by my own experience of therapy and what worked for me as well as what I have found effective in my practice so far.
The following is a summary of the theoretical approaches I primarily draw from, although I do use other approaches and this may look different for each client.
I work psychodynamically; which involves exploring the unconscious, understanding the past and childhood experiences, and using transference and countertransference to inform the work. Exploring attachment issues is also part of the way I work; this includes looking at your attachment style and how this affects you in your day-to-day life.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (“ACT“), is also an important feature in my approach. It is helpful in fostering self-acceptance and compassion, which are important in healing and developing positive mental health. ACT focuses on accepting negative thoughts rather than resisting them and taking committed steps towards living a life in line with your values. It also incorporates mindfulness and mindful living; being more present can help with psychological flexibility and behaviour change.
My approach is also always person-centred; this means my clients are always the priority in my practice. You understand your experience best and it is important for me to understand things from your perspective. Person-centred therapy aims to support a person self-actualise and believes that the solution lies within that individual. Therapy is a place to work together to unlock the potential within you to find what you are looking for.
Underpinning all of the above is my commitment to work inclusively. Diversity and social justice is important to me; I understand that there are many factors outside the counselling room that can affect a person’s wellbeing. I try to keep myself aware of social justice issues and how our current systems and institutions can harm or privilege specific communities. I encourage my clients to bring their full identity into the therapy room so we can understand how that may influence their world.
I also am committed to keeping myself up-to-date with the latest developments in the field as well as to regular training and professional development.
Do I need therapy?
A common misconception is that therapy is for people who are in distress or have a severe mental health condition. Therapy can be helpful for all kinds of issues, especially in today’s day and age. The more isolated we become from our support networks and from our values, the more important the need for therapy becomes.
Whatever you are going through, you don’t need to go through it alone.
Therapy can be helpful for the following issues (but this is not an exhaustive list):
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bereavement and grief
- Trauma
- Work-related stress
- Relationships
- Family issues
- Loneliness and isolation
- Attachment issues
- Parenting issues/pregnancy
- Feeling stuck in life
- Self-confidence and self-esteem