the TeamI have practised long and short term counselling/psychotherapy for over 10 years and see a wide variety of people with many different concerns. Sometimes people have specific problems concerning relationships, work, loss or life changes, sometimes more general feelings of depression, anxiety or stress. I aim to listen carefully and to get to understand how it is for you. Together we work to deepen your understanding and to enable you to find effective ways of shifting underlying problems and developing more satisfying ways of living. I did an integrative training that combined the humanistic and psychodynamic schools of thought and I value both approaches. From the humanistic approach comes a belief that people will naturally grow towards health if given the right conditions; from the psychodynamic approach comes a concern with human development and with childhood patterns that affect us in the present.
I also work with couples (both heterosexual and same sex) who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship. I have previously worked for Relate for 10 years so have considerable experience with a wide variety of relationship and sexual problems. I find working with a counselloor can increase a couple's understanding of the underlying problms and patterns in the relationship, as well as the more obvious difficulties. This understanding often helps to reduce hurt and frees the couple to move forward. Often this will be to find new and more satisfying ways of being together but if the couple decide to separate, counselling can help to make the ending as constructive as possible.
I have a background in teaching and education. I now enjoy training on various short courses and on the 'Foundation Course in Counselling'.