The therapeutic approach
My therapeutic approach draws on the wisdom from both Eastern and Western cultures. It is based on the view that suffering is part of human experience with the understanding that we all have the ability to move forward and thrive in the face of adversity.
We can get so caught up in what is happening to us that we forget about our own resources and abilities. Our minds have developed over a very long time to focus on what is necessary for immediate survival. But this means that we tend to try to ‘get rid’ of the immediate pain and ignore the long terms consequences of doing so. We get caught on a ‘hamster wheel’ of trying to rid ourselves of pain but experiencing more suffering in the process.
This is not helped by some aspects of our culture that try to tell us that we need to act or look a certain way. Or we should have certain material possessions to be ‘worthy’. There is so much emphasis on what we are not: not good enough, not beautiful enough, not rich enough, not cool enough… not perfect.
If we buy into everything that our own mind and our culture is telling us, we can suffer greatly.
Types of therapy
One therapeutic model is not necessarily the answer to everything. In my experience, a combination of approaches allows the process to be tailored to your personal needs.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, pronounced ‘act’) This is my core method and may be very helpful in getting you off that hamster wheel. Acceptance in this model of therapy is used to describe an engagement with the reality of your life, accompanied by actions that encourage you to live your life more resourcefully.
What to expect in Therapy
We will arrange a time for an initial discussion to identify what you want to work on in your sessions and whether I am the most appropriate professional for you to be working with at this time.
Before starting therapy there is an assessment session. This sounds formal, but it is just a detailed conversation about what you are struggling with, some of your background and your goals for therapy, amongst other things. We will also speak about risk factors, as it is very important to me that you are safe during therapy. I will only ever ask you about things that are relevant to our therapeutic work.
At the end of this assessment we can agree on an initial plan for your therapy. You can then decide whether you would like to go ahead. If so, then we will agree on the frequency and number of therapy sessions. I will then send you a therapeutic contract and information sheet that I will ask you to confirm. It contains everything you need to know about therapy.
We then start the work. In therapy we will work at your pace and support you as you explore what you struggle with. For those with chronic pain we will develop ways of dealing with that pain to help you lead a life according to what is important to you. This will involve one hour sessions (presently remotely) and usually some activities to try between sessions. We will regularly review progress to ensure we are on track to achieve your goals. We will also work towards a closing of your work with me as part of the process. This helps to address issues around endings but can also support relapse prevention strategies.
Due to the present Coronavirus pandemic I am presently offering remote appointments by telephone, Skype or Microsoft Teams for assessment and therapy. I plan to offer face to face sessions in the future once this is safely possible again.
For more information, please visit the Specialities page or see the FAQ section.
