Background
Person-centred psychotherapy for adults and young people from age 7. Usually weekly or fortnightly, 50 minutes, £70, online or face to face.
Person-centred therapy is one of the humanistic approaches developed by psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1940s. It is a client-based form of therapy, which means that the client has full control of the therapeutic process.
Rogers believed that every person, when given the right conditions, can reach their full potential and become their true self. Person-centred therapy steers away from the idea that human beings are flawed and require treatment for their problematic behaviours. Instead, it provides clients with the tools and resources they need to understand themselves and what they need to achieve positive change in their lives.
Our work together
Empathy and compassion are the foundation of our work together. I provide a safe space to talk, and I will support you to become more self-aware, accepting of yourself and able to trust your own inner voice. The sessions are non-directive, you can share anything that you want to in our sessions. I do not give you homework or expect you to learn a model. Where it helps, I may also offer practical strategies, and I adapt how we work to the way you communicate and process. I will offer support and help you to explore your feelings, thoughts, beliefs, behaviour, and worldview.
You are the expert on yourself, as no-one else knows exactly what it’s like to be you. I will help you to realise what resources and support are available to you so that you can work through your own issues, build your self-confidence, and appreciate that you always have options.
Person-centred therapy is a holistic approach; it considers the whole person, addressing emotional, cognitive, and behavioural aspects, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of yourself.
What you can expect in our sessions
Genuineness and congruence. I will be real with you! I will be open and honest about my thoughts and feelings of how I experience your world.
Unconditional Positive Regard. I will completely accept, value and support you, taking your feelings and emotions seriously and will validate your feelings. I will separate you from your behaviour with a non-judgemental attitude.
Empathy. I will use empathetic understanding to see the world through your eyes and see and feel your feelings as you feel them. I will put myself ‘in your shoes’.
Benefits associated with person-centred therapy.
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Improved self-awareness
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Greater trust in yourself and your own abilities
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Improved self-esteem
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Healthier relationships
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Healthier communication skills
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Improved ability to express opinions and feelings
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Ability to let go of past hurt or mistakes
The skills and insights gained through person-centred therapy can have enduring positive effects, extending beyond therapy sessions into daily life.
Integrative Therapy
The integrative psychotherapy model combines different styles of counselling and recognises that a single approach does not fit all situations.
I am trained in different counselling and psychological theories and may incorporate aspects of other therapeutic approaches. This model is flexible and adaptable and tailored to your individual needs, rather than expecting you to fit to one specific type of therapy.
The person-centred principles always underpin our sessions, the focus is on you and the aim is to help you reach your full potential.
Working with children and young people
With children and young people I work at their pace and in ways that suit them, which can include creative activities and games as well as talking. Parents and carers are involved as appropriate.
Support around self-harm, suicide and loss.
If you're struggling with self-harm or thoughts of suicide, or someone you know has died by suicide, you don't have to find the right words before you get in touch. Lots of people worry about how to say it, or what will happen if they do.
You can come as you are. There's no pressure to talk about anything before you feel ready, and no judgement about what you tell me. We'll go at your pace, and I'll want to understand what things are like for you.
I also support people who have been bereaved by suicide. It can be a very particular kind of grief, often with questions that are hard to take anywhere else. Whatever you're carrying, there's room for it here.
I trained with Harmless and The Tomorrow Project, and spent 18 months working with them, supporting people at risk of self-harm and suicide, and those affected by suicide. Their website has lots of useful information and resources on self-harm, suicide prevention and suicide bereavement.
If I'm ever worried about your safety, I'll always try to talk with you first about what might help.
I'm not an emergency service and can't always reply straight away. If you need help now, please see If you need help now.
Confidentiality
What you share with me is confidential. I would only share it without your agreement if I believed you or someone else was at serious risk of harm or if the law required it. With children and young people, I explain this in a way that suits their age. See my Privacy Notice for how I look after your information.