My Approach

I am an experienced Integrative Psychotherapist. This means that I am trained in more than one model of therapy and I value and integrate both/ all approaches within myself. The models I am trained in are humanistic/ person-centred and psychodynamic/ psychoanalytic psychotherapy. My therapeutic approach is grounded in a deep awareness of the safe use of power in relationships and alongside knowledge of the 'social construction' of sickness and suffering. This means that in my role as therapist, I am aware of both the content of clients' issues AND the environment (i.e the family, workplace, economic structures, prejudicial structures. housing, cultural context) in which a person's distress occurs. In this sense, my work is 'systemic', meaning that I tend to look at a client's distress as a symptom reflecting the environment within which it occurs. I am open to all narratives including those which question the 'mainstream' - especially after the COVID-19 lockdowns. My approach is intended to support clients to generally feel 'seen' and respected and through this, to release shame, self-blame. I intend also to examine and support wherever possible in becoming free from a sometimes inappropriate sense of responsibility, that some people tend to carry. I have specialist knowledge of narcissistic spectrum disorders and their role in familial distress. My therapy may support clients into taking a deeper responsibility for their lifestyle, boundaries and choices where appropriate. I additionally have specialist training in trauma-focussed work (EMDR) and group work/ mediation within Therapeutic Communities/ Families Systems. As a separate practise, I am trained in shamanic healing and complementary therapies. I include this, for those who may want to be ensure that their any psychotherapeutic relationship is founded in a holistic and transpersonal perspective, where issues are processed from a mind-body-spirit perspective. I personally walk a path of nature-based spirituality, however my practise is inclusive of all faiths, beliefs and walks of life.

About Me

I have been a counsellor and psychotherapist since 2001 and as such I walk with a very wide range of experience in public services, the NHS as well as in private practice. In the 23 years that I have been practising, there is little that I have not discussed with people seeking my help. Issues I have worked with clients on include:

Addiction, abuse, adoption, ADHD, age-related issues, anger, anorexia, anxiety, autism/ Asperger's, bereavement, boundaries, bulimia, bullying, cancer, carer stress, chronic issues, complementary health/ medicines, 'conspiracy theories', Coronavirus and associated issues, criminality, cultural issues, cult abuse, curses, death and existential issues, depression, disability, discrimination, drugs, eating disorders, EMDR, employment issues, empathic abilities (sensing the world of others), fear, gender, grief, health-related issues, identity problems, infertility, isolation, lockdown (and associated world issues), loneliness, mental health issues, narcissism and narcissistic abuse, obsessions and OCD, parents, paranormal events, phobias, physical abuse, psychosis, PTSD, psychedelic integration, race issues, relationships, religion/ faith-based issues, sexual abuse, sexual addiction, sexual problems, sexuality, sex work, shamanism, spirituality, stress, suicidality and suicide, supervision, telephone counselling, terminal illness, trafficking, training and teaching, transcultural issues, transpersonal issues, trauma-bonding (so-called 'twin flame' processes), vaccines, voice-hearing, workplace issues

My communication style is intentionally warm and accessible. I have specialist skills (i.e. EMDR, trauma-focused model) and in working with survivors of all forms of abuse. I have worked extensively with people with learning disabilities and those at risk of social exclusion. Settings/ social groups I have worked in/ with include; addiction services, a women's refuge, a rape crisis service, with young people, with homeless people, with looked-after children, with people with enduring mental illness, in a hospice, with stroke survivors and most recently in the Psycho-Oncology team and end-of-life care at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital in London. A further area of specialist knowledge and interest is that of narcissism spectrum disorders and narcissistic abuse and I have links with The Echo Society, a London-based charity.

My work has also developed in a way that could be described as 'transpersonal' (working with non-ordinary states of consciousness and experiences). I have been part of the Psychedelic Integration circle run by Imperial College London and have links with the Psychology research team who are trialling Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

My experience is that people are increasingly requesting help with existential, religious and spiritual processes (especially beyond the Coronavirus lockdowns and related issues of recent years), including with what could loosely be termed 'spiritual awakening'. I am able to support with issues of this kind, including the integration of what can be called 'transpersonal experiences' (non-ordinary states of consciousness/ events). I am open-minded with a wealth of life experience and have been on a nature-based, spiritual path for many years . I intend that my work is accessible to all/ any multi-faith clients or those without a spiritual path. A foundational belief I walk with is that much emotional and mental distress is rooted in the generalised trend towards disconnection from and disrespect for nature, which is inherent in modern life. Through offering therapeutic relationships, I intend to support the bridging of these spaces of disconnection, which are also present within us, as one approach to supporting clients into a more truthful, creative and honouring inner relationship. This way of relating authentically, tends to support a deepening of fulfilment in relationships and a healthier life generally.

I offer a free 30 minute telephone assessment/ consultation. My private practice is currently based in Glastonbury, Somerset. I am additionally happy to work via video or telephone call as required. My current fee is £65p.h. and I am willing to consider those who may need a concessionary rate on a case by case basis.

To contact me please email: bwbf1111@gmail.com and allow 7 days for a response unless marked 'urgent'.

I work with

• Companies
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Individuals
• Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Integrative Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Addiction
• ADHD
• Adoption
• Age-related Issues
• AIDS/HIV
• Anger Management
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bulimia
• Bullying
• Cancer
• Chronic Illness
• Cultural Issues
• Depression
• Disability
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorders
• EMDR
• Employment Difficulties
• Gender
• Health-related Issues
• Identity Problems
• Infertility
• Mental Health Issues
• Obsessions
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Online Counselling
• Parents
• Phobias
• Physical Abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Private Practice Issues
• Race Issues
• Relationships
• Sex Offenders
• Sex Problems
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexuality
• Spirituality
• Stress
• Suicide
• Supervision
• Telephone Counselling
• Terminal Illness
• Those at Risk of Sexual Offending
• Training
• Trauma
• Workplace Counselling