Counsellor
SPECIALTIES; online and in-person
ONLINE COUNSELLING
Working online since covid has been revolutionary. Seeing clients across the world that are really well suited, in a comfortable private space - to me - more than compensates for the lack of felt presence. Finding an agreed approach and level of challenge, getting to the heart of why you feel, think or act the way you do is the same as in-person. Therapeutic counselling can be painful at times, with 'aha' moments, and times of release and recognition at others, but always with the view that who you are and what you are feeling is 'OK', understandable and workable.
DEPRESSION
Can appear suddenly with an event or change in circumstance, or be such a familiar place that is hard to imagine being different. Using a combination of here and now, experiential attention and past-exploration, we can begin to understand, move forward and forgive ourselves.
Neurodiversity
You may have a diagnosis from a clinician, friend, yourself or even a youtube video; and this may have been helpful or not. It does add a dimension to counselling that is easily overlooked, but actually is part of the process for everyone; sharing what it is to be like 'you' in the world, having that understood and affirmed as a starting point
Polychrisis
The planet and the people on it are experiencing overlapping crises; political, ecological, spiritual. With the rapid change, uncertainty and anxiety are a natural and surprisingly common responses. Finding new ways to respond is possible through fostering a compassionate approach to ourselves.
ADDICTION
Whether to substances, behaviours or even a person, addiction saps our capacity for real love, spontaneity and enjoyment of life. Counselling looks directly for the parts of ourselves we sooth with the addiction, and with compassion for ourselves, finds another way.
RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING
Whether family members navigating a specific issue like gender-transitioning, divorce or inheritance, to business partners contemplating changes, TA counselling can ease the path of change by finding a shared language and using a contractual approach that accounts for the material, emotional and historical.
TRAUMA
Trauma is a wound that got through the armour. Often there is a clear event or circumstance connected with the trauma, and sometimes clients just have a sense that part of them is traumatised; wounded without being able to identify why. Shame, confusion and guilt often muddy the waters, but naming, soothing and healing the wound are possible.
THE BODY
Our bodies 'keep the score', they are a map of our lives, a support for our growth..... or irritant and drain, even an enemy. Paying compassionate attention to the body's signals is a key part of working therapeutically. Holding an awareness of some of the subtleties of how body, mind and spirit interact (eg polyvagal theory, subtle body, Kinesiology, breathwork), is an ongoing project.
................Heroes and role-models
Five people in the therapy world worth checking out; Gabor Mate, Bill Cornell, Orna from couples therapy, Donna Eden, Tsoknyi Rinpoche
DISABILITY
I have spent many years working with people with a disability, and their parents and carers. Particular areas of experience are; visual or multi-sensory impairment, PMLD, Battens disease, Downs syndrome, dementia, Parkinsons disease.