A Range of Methods to Draw On
The therapeutic approaches and methods used by the therapist influence how the client feels in sessions and also determine the levels of engagement and collaboration. In my counselling approach I draw on a range of methods and skills, including Person-Centred Approach, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt and Focusing. Your particular situation, your personality and thinking style will determine which approach is most useful.
Below is just a brief description of my style of work – a short initial conversation or meeting in person can give you a fuller sense of how I practice and answer any queries you have.
Relational
For the majority of people, emotional and mental pain stems from challenging relationships and from the consequent difficulty of creating and sustaining fulfilling bonds with others. When we are able to cultivate nourishing relationships in which we feel truly understood and that allow us to be authentic, this experience leads to an increased level of wellbeing. This is the reason why my work focuses on creating a supportive therapeutic alliance – a relationship in which you can feel ‘held’ but not trapped, noticed but not scrutinised. In this non-judgmental, open space the mind can settle and the heart can open, so that transformation is possible.
Proactive
Some counsellors prefer to remain quiet in sessions, occasionally reflecting on what the client says and communicating empathy through their body language and facial expressions. While this style of relating can be extremely valuable, I also offer another way of working. There are times when the situation calls for a more proactive mode of operating, in which we actively discuss issues, share views and compare observations. This atmosphere of mutuality, where we both actively participate in the therapeutic process, might help you to feel less self-conscious and isolated. It also allows you to get the know my ways of thinking and perceiving, rather than having to guess what is happening for me in the moment.
Body-Centred
The conceptual, thinking mind is a wonderful tool as it can help people to understand the source of their difficulties, to gain new perspectives and to see clearly which habits to let go of and which new habits to develop. If all the therapeutic work is done only on the intellectual level, however, the value of therapy can be diminished. By gradually tuning into the bodily sensations, you can gain access to a whole range of valuable information that can be described as somatic knowing. Our bodies have their own wisdom and when we start listening to the silent language of sensations (such as the signs of bodily tension or relaxation, or the quality of our breathing), we increase both our insight and our ability to respond authentically. As a therapist, I might invite you to gradually shift your attention to your body, so that you can connect to your own somatic knowing and use the body as a place of comfort and ease of being.