Psychotherapy
“I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each because each has a unique story”
Irvin Yalom (2022)
What is Psychotherapy
The quote above resonates deeply with me on a personal level, echoing my own beliefs and experiences.
What I bring to therapy
In order to meet and honour your uniqueness, my work is based on a relational, collaborative and interactive approach. This allows you to focus on matters deeply embedded in your very existence that are exposed to an unpredictable and ever-changing world.
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The single most important thing I have learned from my practice is that everybody’s story deserves to be heard. Therefore, my contribution is to be present and still enough to truly hear what you are saying, approaching you with a sense of openness and wonderment at your unfolding story.
Is there anything you need to bring to therapy?
The answer is simple; just bring yourself, and I’ll meet you wherever you are and with what you are right now. From there, everything else will naturally unfold.
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My interests & specialisations:
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Trauma, PTSD & C-PTSD
The effects of unsettling or traumatic experiences are frequently overlooked or dismissed, leading to a lack of recognition of post-traumatic stress symptoms and their profound impact on individuals and their lives. Understanding how to identify these signs, manage triggers, and utilise coping mechanisms developed for survival is crucial. It's essential to acknowledge that everyone's experience of trauma is unique and manifests differently.
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Loss, Grief & Bereavement
For many years, I have dedicated my work to bereavement counselling, end-of-life and palliative care at St. Raphael’s Hospice in Sutton, London. In this volunteering role, I support patients and their families through difficult times. Grief counselling extends beyond the loss of a loved one and encompasses various forms of loss, including loss of health, relationships, careers, pets, identity, meaning, and purpose, among countless others.
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Anxiety, Self-harm, OCD, Personality & Mood Disorders
We all frequently encounter highs and lows or anxiety-inducing situations in our lives. However, when these challenges become intolerable or overwhelming, we may experience depression, panic attacks, mood swings, paranoia, intrusive thoughts, self-harm, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, or difficulties with self-image, among other issues. During such times, therapy proves invaluable.
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Diversity & Inclusion
In my therapy practice, I frequently observe that residing in a multicultural society presents unique challenges. Typically, individuals belonging to diverse backgrounds bear the brunt of discrimination, abuse, and isolation.
My practice warmly embraces individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, ethnic minorities, and those with physio-psychological disabilities (accessible for wheelchair users).
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What it helps with
Common issues and challenges that frequently lead individuals to seek counselling and therapy encompass:
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Trauma, Dissociation, Anxiety & Stress
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Depression, low self-esteem, feeling hopeless & stuck, loneliness & isolation
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Physical, emotional & sexual abuse
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Family dynamics & relationship problems
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Chronic illnesses & pain, Eating Disorders
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Sexual issues, sex addiction & BDSM
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Anger issues, mid-life crisis, work/career crisis, Self-harm & Suicidal thoughts
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Bereavement, death anxiety & loss
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Ethnicity, Gender Identity, Discrimination
What is integrative-psychotherapy and what can it offer?
Below are six distinct approaches that shape my practice. Each approach brings unique skills and specialities, enabling the therapist to work in an "integrative" manner. This flexibility allows for the selection of the most suitable approach based on the client's needs, thereby establishing the groundwork for a comprehensive and safe therapeutic practice:
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Psychodynamic:
This approach offers a map of early life and issues that relate to that time of a persons life. This includes our conditioning and what we have been influenced and informed by both, our family as well as our social environment.
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Person-centred/ Humanistic:
Person-centred therapy is a humanistic counselling approach that prioritises empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in the therapeutic relationship. Clients are seen as naturally capable of self-discovery and personal growth. Through a non-directive, supportive atmosphere, therapists encourage clients to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. The goal is to foster clients' self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-direction, empowering them to utilise their own inner strengths to address their challenges.
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Existentialism:
This approach is essentially about being human. It explores the intricacies of each client’s experience of what it entails to be human. It also focuses on questions regarding our existence, including concerns about life and death, being and becoming, spirituality, meaningfulness and choice, relationships, oppression, freedom, and authenticity. The role of the therapist is to help the client focus their consciousness on the situation they are in, taking full responsibility for it while accepting the givens of life.
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Transpersonal:
This approach invites psychotherapists to draw upon ancient wisdom, modern psychology and philosophy. It is underpinned by an inclusive theoretical framework. Its basic assumptions include:
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the multidimensionality of consciousness;
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the idea that our essential self is spiritual;
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the idea that we are all seeking wholeness;
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the idea that we can access an inner wisdom and that our life and actions can be meaningful, to name a few.
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Trauma-Informed Therapy:
Trauma-informed therapy recognises trauma's pervasive effects on individuals and focuses on establishing a safe, supportive space for healing. Therapists understand trauma's impact on the brain, emotions, and behaviours, integrating this understanding into treatment. Prioritising client empowerment, choice, and collaboration, therapists use techniques to promote stabilisation, grounding, and emotional regulation. The aim is to assist clients in developing resilience, processing traumatic experiences, and progressing toward recovery and personal growth.
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Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is a humanistic and experiential approach to psychotherapy that emphasises personal responsibility, awareness in the present moment, and the integration of conflicting aspects of the self. It focuses on the here and now, exploring unresolved issues and patterns of behaviour through techniques such as role-playing, dialogue, and guided awareness exercises. Gestalt therapy encourages clients to fully experience and express their emotions and aims to help them develop greater self-awareness and authentic relationships.
