My Approach

What you can expect from your first session:

We would arrange an initial free-of charge discussion where I will answer your questions about my approach and what's involved in starting inner work.

If it seems that coaching, psychotherapy or counselling is a good way forwards, we'll meet for a two-session assessment during which we'll talk in more depth about your life and what's led you to seek therapy. I will ask a lot of questions in these sessions - I will seek to understand you from a holistic perspective. We would also discuss in these initial sessions how we may work together. You'll also get a sense of whether or not you feel comfortable enough to begin ongoing work with me. In these initial few sessions, we'd discuss together such things as fees, frequency of meetings, and the working approach we will start with. In these sessions there's plenty of time for me to hear and understand what matters most to you.

My style of working

I offer weekly psychotherapy sessions of 50 minutes each time. Once we have agreed a regular time and day to meet each week, that session time is yours until your psychotherapy ends.

I am told I am warm, grounded, curious and intuitive and that people feel safe to open up with me to depths that surprise them. Our conversations are likely to be rich and at times, challenging. I am told I am a deep listener. I've had my own transformative dark nights of the soul and my intention is to be a guide through these times if they come - you do not need to avoid or get stuck alone. I am willing to share aspects of my self and my own inner work, if it seems facilitative or illustrative for you. For many people it can reduce the sense of 'power imbalance' to feel that our psychotherapist is also facing challenges, making growthful sacrifices and establishing positive changes.

I can be quite passionate and directive at times and I've been told that that my clients feel that I genuinely care about them. I'm aware it can be difficult for us as clients to difficult to speak up to therapists about things we don't like. I try therefore to check with my clients regularly and pro-actively to make it easy for them to tell me what's working for them and what isn't.

To support your work I may use techniques of compassionate inquiry, shadow work creative techniques, dreamwork and parts therapy. Sometimes no 'technique' is needed: compassionate, respectful conversation can give you the breathing space to explore things and people often find that even if nothing has changed in the situation, they feel much lighter and more motivated and capable. I've often been told that often my clients experience changes they could not have imagined on arriving, and that the process was more gentle, fun and surprising than they had expected!

The first step

Please get in touch by phone or email for an initial discussion, when I'll explain more about the first steps and you can ask any questions you might have about the important decision to start psychotherapy. There's no charge for this initial meeting. I look forward to hearing from you - wherever you are in the process.

About Me

I'm a warm, friendly and direct depth psychotherapist and a certified ShadowWork coach with a decade of experience.

I do not work to a medical model of psychotherapy: my approach is informed by depth or archetypal psychology, which invites deep care of the psyche, rather than an idea of cure. In practice this feels like a private and intimate conversation and I use techniques of active imagination to move our work beyond conscious or cognitive discussion. I've been a psychotherapist, tutor, clinical supervisor and workshop facilitator since 2012. I've worked in NHS, corporate and trade union environments and my private psychotherapy practice has been full and busy for a decade.

My life experiences have brought me to this work. My first training was as a geneticist - I completed my PhD in genetics in 2006 and went on to train as a patent attorney in biotechnology and medical technology. When I developed binge eating disorder and began a journey of recovery, I changed my priorities, career and way of living. I have come to view my eating disorder as a symptom of a spiritual awakening.

I am especially interested in working with people who may be going through the difficult process of transformational crises or spiritual awakenings - sometimes labelled 'burnout, depression or anxiety' without any further exploration. In connection with this area I also have a special interest in psychedelic integration work and the current clinical research in this area. I am a member of the Institute for Psychedelic Therapy https://instituteofpsychedelictherapy.org/psychedelic-integration-database/

I look forward to meeting with you.

Shadow Work Coach - certified 2018
Deep Democracy Basic Training 2018
MSc in Psychotherapy - Newman University - 2015 "An autoethnographic study of the experience of uncertainty in psychotherapy"
Diploma in Psychotherapy - Northern Guild - 2015
Diploma Clinical Supervision - Northern Guild 2015
Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy - Newman University 2013
Diploma Psychotherapeutic Counselling - Northern Guild - 2012

I work with

• Individuals

Types of Therapies Offered

• Integrative Psychotherapist
• Psychotherapeutic Counsellor