“Forget the perfect offering,
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”Leonard Cohen – Anthem.
My approach is based on my belief that we are all intrinsically whole and it is our innate human desire to reconnect to that wholeness. All of us at some point in our life are meet with situations or crisis points that may cause us to struggle on our journey.
I work within a plural-affirmative, GSRD affirmative and neurodivergent affirmative perspective meaning I see an individual as multiple in all the spectrums of selves, diversity and difference.
I follow an integrative psychosynthesis approach that includes gestalt, psychodynamic, person centered, existential, transpersonal (spiritual) models. I also offer somatic (body), and EFT modalities. If it is right for you, some of the ways we may work will be more creative, such as drawings, visualisations, inner child dialogue, mindfullness, body movements. In more recent years I have been incorporating the knowledge of neuroscience into my practice. Working especially with polyvagal theory and the autonomic nervous system. However, it is the relationship between client and therapist that is at the very heart of the therapeutic process.
I work at the level of mind, body, energy and soul in a process that is guided by a relationship to deep self. With growing awareness we can gain insights, cognitions, develop emotional authenticity, enabling more free will to greater choices in our lives.
I don’t define you by your problems, label or rigidly analyse you, but see you as a unique individual on a souls journey. I am not there to fix, but accompany you on your path and acknowledge that you as the client have the answers within. The context of the work is to illuminate and give meaning to your circumstances; to discover the expression of a purposeful and creative life full of meaning and value.
Throughout the process of therapy we will work to discover or support your internal and external resources so that the therapist is no longer needed.
What is Psychosynthesis
Psychosynthesis acknowledges that we are all unique and individual souls on a journey through life. We are more than our problems and our failures, and that at the very deepest levels of our selves we are wise beings seeking to express our potential into the world.
A psychosynthesis perspective views that the challenges life presents itself to us are opportunities for growth and transformation. It is a psychological process of integrating all the parts and aspects of ourselves into a powerful and harmonious whole.
What is Psychosexual therapy
Integrative psychosexual therapy means it offers a more holistic approach to sex and relationships as opposed to the medical model of sex, the most commonly offered psychosexual therapy on the NHS. I offer a biopsychosocial model and homeodynamic model of sex and relationships.
The homeodynamic model (Laffy, C. 2013) for sexuality is sex positive, promoting sexual health and wellbeing rather than being focused on sexual fear and shame. Although I have knowledge of sexual dysfunctions, including compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, I do not over medicalise them, instead I offer psychoeducation about the sexual body, such as the physiology of sexuality, reproductive models of sex, pleasure principles, sexual energy, creativity and intimacy. I seek to build a persons sexual self esteem and sexual empowerment, creating a sexual diet that suits the individual needs of the client.
Couples/partner/s therapy
I also see couples or other partner relationships for either or both sex and relationship therapy. Again this is a more integrative, holistic approach to sex and relationships and works with a depatholgising manner to support the unfolding of what the relationship needs.
I specialise in gender and sexual diverse clients and relationships. See my speciality page.
EFT, Somatic Trauma therapy
Other than an integrative psychosynthesis model, I also offer Somatic Trauma therapy and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). These modalities are widely used today for trauma based therapy work. EFT a form of meridian tapping is a useful tool that works on regulating the nervous system and can be used for many issues, such as limiting belief patterns, negative emotions, anxiety, phobias, and addictions. By tapping on specific points of the face and upper body can release negative emotions.
There is now much research into the benefit of using EFT with cognitive instruction. Current research shows that tapping on points of the body can induce a mini REM state in the brain, which reorganises how we process information. It also reduces cortisol levels, which helps with stress regulation and improves heart rate variability (HRV).
Some reports into the benefits of EFT
Exciting Pioneering Research which may mean EFT becoming acceptable within the NHS.
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/alternative-tapping-technique-good-for-mental-health.jsp
EFT lowers stress hormones Cortisol and Stress.
Foundation for Epigenetic Medicine, Santa Rosa, CA
First large-scale study of an energy psychology approach in a clinical setting
Energy Psychology: Theory, Indications, Evidence Joaquin Andrade, M.D. and David Feinstein, Ph.D.
Somatic Trauma therapy works with the theories of Peter Levine and Babette Rothschild in a very safe way to process and heal traumatic experiences, involving both cognitive and somatic methods. Somatic Trauma therapy is a therapy that does not require touch, however it gives attention to both body and mind as necessary for the treatment of trauma. Improving quality of life is at the core of Somatic Trauma therapy. Attention is put into developing psychological and physical resources, as well as balancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
These more body and energetic therapies can be integrated into a psychotherapeutic process of counselling when appropriate, or if you the client would wish for me to include them.
‘The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.’
Albert Einstein