I am an experienced UKCP registered psychotherapist working with people from diverse backgrounds who come to see me because they feel anxious, depressed, have relationship problems or have a general sense of unease and feel that life is meaningless or joyless. Some people feel stuck and find themselves in the same place, repeating the same patterns, despite their efforts to change things. Other people come because they want to get to know themselves more deeply and experience life more fully.
I offer a safe therapeutic relationship that seeks to understand you as a unique person. Within this therapeutic relationship, we can explore and begin to understand why you may feel the way you are, why things don’t seem to be working for you, and what things you want to change. The therapy does not involve giving you a set of instructions or prescriptions for how you should live your life, nor will I try to fit you into a category. Instead, it focuses on developing a deeper understanding of yourself, leading to a better ability to creatively manage the demands and risks of life, develop better relationships and reduce ‘symptoms’.
Intitial Consultation
I usually see people for an initial consultation, which allows us to explore their reasons for coming into therapy and what they want to get out of it. It also allows us to see if we can work together. A brief telephone conversation before the initial consultation is often helpful.
During the initial consultation, we will explore why you are considering starting therapy and what you hope to get out of it. I am interested in you as a unique person. I will not simply look at your symptoms and try to fit you into a category.
If we feel that the therapy I offer won’t be helpful for you or that we can’t work together, I may be able to suggest where you can find a more suitable therapist or refer you to a colleague.
Psychotherapy Offered
If we decide to work together, we will arrange to either work in time-limited or open-ended psychotherapy. I meet with people weekly, but you may want to meet more frequently. The therapy I offer aims to develop an understanding of your symptoms and/or difficulties. This happens by creating a safe exploratory relationship in which we can begin to make sense of what you are bringing to therapy. This process can not only lead to symptom relief but can also increase your self-awareness, which may also result in changes to your life, including an increased capacity to have more fulfilling relationships and sex life, a better ability to understand yourself and others and more freedom and confidence to face challenges life poses.
Due to the complexity of human beings, change is not guaranteed; however, most people who come to therapy report significant positive changes in their lives. The latest research, including recent studies in neuroscience, has demonstrated its efficacy. Further, studies have shown that people continue to make significant improvements and grow long after the therapy ends. This suggests that Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy sets psychological processes that lead to ongoing change in motion.
I am an experienced psychotherapist registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy, a member of the Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis, and a Clinical Fellow of the International Nueropsychoanalysis Society.
I have been in private practice in Canterbury since 2008. I see adults and couples for time-limited and open-ended psychotherapy. I also supervise counsellors and other professionals, such as social workers and teachers.
I consult in several schools and other agencies, supervising or providing time-limited psychotherapy to managers, other professionals, and support staff.
I previously worked for the NHS as a psychotherapist, working with people who presented with depression and anxiety, relationship problems, personality disorders, loss and work-related problems.
Before qualifying as a psychotherapist, I worked as a clinical social worker providing individual, family and group therapy in various settings, including business and community-based organisations. The people I worked with came with relationship problems, work-related problems, depression, anxiety, or had experienced trauma because of domestic violence and abuse.
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