"I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each patient because each has a unique story"
Irvin D. Yalom
How do I work?
My approach
I am trained in Integrative Counselling. This means that I have undertaken training in a number of Counselling and Psychotherapy practices and am able to adapt my approach and style to meet the needs of each individual client.
I believe that everyone is individual and unique and therefore the therapeutic approach that will best suit them will also be unique. I work in a person centred way, holistically looking at the person before me and exploring with them what they need.
Some therapies are client led and some are more counsellor led. Some approaches are more suited to short term therapy and others for longer work. Together we will explore and agree an approach that feels right for you.
Therapy practices that I can draw upon in our sessions include:
- Person Centred Therapy (PCT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy/Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CBT/CAT)
- Dialetical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Gestalt Therapy
- Somatic Experiencing (SE)
How and where I work
I can offer both short term and long term therapy, depending on your preferences.
I work with both adults and children and young people (age 11+) on a 1:1 basis.
Therapy sessions are usually 50 minutes in length and held weekly, at the same day and time to support consistency. However, I aim to be flexible and appreciate that for some people fortnightly sessions or varying the days (due to shift work) might be necessary.
I offer both Face to Face and Online (via Google Meet) sessions.
Face to Face sessions are currently held within the Blackfen Community Library (on Blackfen Parade), within Sidcup Space, (on Hatherly Road, just off Sidcup High Street) or within Avenues Wellbeing Step by Step (Bexleyheath, on the Broadway).
Online sessions are offered Monday to Friday.
How do we get started?
I offer a free, no obligation, 20 minute phone or video call and suggest that we do this initially, to provide an opportunity for you to explore whether you would like to work with me and what support I can offer. This also provides time for you to ask any questions you may have.
If you would then like to proceed we will then book in your initial session. I will at this point send you a copy of our Working Agreement, which outlines some parameters around the way we will work together, including information on confidentiality.
During your initial session I will explain the Working Agreement. We will also use this session to explore your history, reasons for coming to therapy and approaches that might work well for you. By the end of the first session you should feel that we have agreed a way of working that feels comfortable for you.
We will explore in the initial session, but also regularly during your course of therapy, how many sessions you might want or need. You are at no point tied in to a set course of sessions and we can end when you feel appropriate. I do however ask, where possible, that we have an ending session to ensure that we end in a planned and safe way.
