For both talking therapy and coaching, I work in a solution-focused ‘person-centred’ way, which is counselling speak for putting you at the centre of the work. Please see the separate tab on Trauma and EMDR.
There are no set agendas, and as you are the most important person in the relationship - your hour will be all about you, giving you the head-space to make sense of what is going on in your life. I work ‘integratively’ which means I use a variety of approaches depending on what suits you best at that particular time, for a particular issue.
The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy describe person-centred as “based on the assumption that a client seeking help in the resolution of a problem they are experiencing, can enter into a relationship with a counsellor who is sufficiently accepting and permissive to allow the client to freely express any emotions and feelings... The objective is for the client to become able to see himself as a person, with the power and freedom to change.” Being person-centred means that I will not judge you, but rather will enter your world to support you to make choices and changes to your thinking, emotions and actions. I offer empathy, not sympathy to empower you to gain clarity and growth.
This short clip may help to explain an empathic approach: Click Here (thanks to Dr Brene Brown and RSA)
As I want the best outcomes for you, sometimes I might give you some information to take away with you and/ or invite you to work through some tasks in between sessions if you think it would benefit.
Sometimes ‘Solution-focused Brief Therapy’ may suit you best. The BACP describe this as promoting “positive change rather than dwelling on past problems. Clients are encouraged to focus positively on what they do well and to set goals and work out how to achieve them. As little as 3 or 4 sessions may be beneficial”.
Sessions last for 50 minutes to an hour, usually weekly, but I will be guided by you.
I offer a free, initial 20 minute session where we can discuss how we might work together, what challenges you wish to work on, and answer any questions you have.
This can be face to face or by telephone or webcam. There is absolutely no obligation to commit to a full session, as we may not be suited to each other, and it is important that you find a therapist/ coach who you feel you would be able to work with to gain the most out of the sessions. Here we could discuss our ‘contract’ – our agreement to how we will work together. If we worked remotely, this would be emailed using a secure platform for signatures. Here’s a copy to look at now: Click Here.
I often use an assessment tool to see how you are at the start of our work together and for you to track progress. Here are two examples:
As a registered member of the BACP I adhere to their code of ethics, online guidance and have regular professional clinical supervision.