Anxiety, depression, stress, anger, bereavement and loss, relationship/family issues, identity, career, self-esteem, co-dependency, addictive or compulsive behaviour, a lack of direction in life, issues relating to childhood abuse/neglect, sexuality, ageing or illness.

In psychotherapy, the development of trust in the therapeutic relationship over time enables a deeper exploration of the origins, meaning and consequences of life issues: people may use psychotherapy to address and modify longstanding symptoms or behaviour, and to understand how they have come to be the people they are; in addition, some people find psychotherapy to be a useful process in promoting their personal growth and development.

Both counselling and psychotherapy provide a place for people to talk through and explore their concerns. The process of counselling or psychotherapy leads people to a deeper understanding of themselves (feelings, thoughts and behaviour) and how they relate to others. Self-awareness and self-acceptance foster improved and expanded life choices, thereby improving emotional well-being. The role of a counsellor or psychotherapist is to help you to understand yourself and to find the life-path and choices that work best for you. Through listening without judgement and responding sensitively to you, my aim is to support you in your voyage of self-discovery and improved functioning in the world.

Choosing a therapist

Because of the different types of therapy available, choosing a counsellor may be confusing. Research indicates that no one therapeutic approach is more effective than another; instead, the success of therapy seems to depend on the quality of the relationship you form with your counsellor. Hence, it is extremely important that you find a therapist with whom you feel sufficiently safe and comfortable, so that you can talk openly about what is on your mind and in your heart. It is also important that the therapist or counsellor possesses the skills, training and experience to help you with your current situation.

An integrative approach to therapy

Psychodynamic approach places importance on the link between the past and present (origins of issues), on looking at patterns in relationships and feelings (including within the therapy encounter itself) and in working symbolically and with the less conscious parts of self. A Humanistic approach emphasises the importance of the expression of feelings, and focusses on helping you to find your true or 'authentic' self, which may be hidden under longstanding life scripts or beliefs about what you 'should' do or be. A Cognitive Behavioural approach focusses on addressing counter-productive ways of thinking and behaving that may be inhibiting you from having the life you want. A Systemic approach recognises that we are each part of many groups - family, work, community - and that our own struggles and ways of being may be bound up with those around us.

Therapy can be extremely effective in supporting people so that they may grow and change, become more self-aware and be more true to themselves. Through therapy, many people experience a new sense of freedom, peace, and well-being.