Psychotherapy
Understanding what is happening and why.
Therapy can be an opportunity to understand the patterns behind what you're experiencing — including your thoughts, feelings, relationships, behaviour and the experiences that have shaped you.
I offer in-depth psychotherapy that combines psychological depth with practical change, drawing on a relational and integrative approach. Where appropriate, I also incorporate evidence-based approaches such as ERP and ACT.
How therapy can help
Therapy can help you understand the patterns that are affecting your thoughts, feelings, relationships and wider life, and begin to consider what you would like to change.
This might involve exploring longstanding difficulties in depth, understanding why you become caught in particular patterns of thinking or relating, developing a different relationship with your thoughts and feelings, or finding new ways of responding to situations that are difficult.
What I work with
You may find yourself caught up in unwanted or disturbing thoughts, repeatedly analysing what they mean, seeking reassurance or certainty, or going over the same questions again and again. This can include predominantly mental forms of OCD, sometimes referred to as “Pure O”. Where appropriate, I incorporate ERP and ACT into a broader relational and integrative approach.
You may notice the same difficulties coming up in your relationships, around intimacy, trust, boundaries or conflict, or find yourself repeating patterns that you don't fully understand. Therapy can help you explore how your earlier relationships and experiences may have shaped the way you relate to yourself and others, and how these patterns continue to play out in your relationships now.
Anxiety can show up as persistent worry, feeling constantly on alert, struggling with uncertainty or avoiding situations, decisions or experiences that feel difficult. You may also find that anxiety begins to affect your relationships, work or enjoyment of life. Therapy can help you understand what keeps these patterns going and develop different ways of responding.
What you can expect
Therapy is a collaborative process. We'll start by talking about what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to be different.
Over time, we can develop a clearer understanding of the patterns affecting you and consider how you might respond to them differently.
My style is curious, empathetic and engaged. I won't simply sit back and listen while you do all the work. I'll ask questions, offer observations and, where appropriate, gently challenge ways of thinking or behaving that may be keeping you stuck.
Sessions are usually conversational and exploratory, but the focus can vary depending on what you need. Sometimes that means taking time to understand something in depth; at other times, it may mean focusing more directly on a particular difficulty or trying something new.
We can review how therapy is going as we work together and adjust our approach when needed.
Starting therapy
I currently offer psychotherapy online from my Brighton-based practice, with appointments available throughout the UK and, where permitted by local regulations, internationally.
If you’re considering therapy, the first step is usually an initial conversation. This gives us an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy, what you’re looking for and whether I might be the right therapist for you.
There’s no need to have everything worked out before we speak. We can take some time to understand what you’re experiencing and think together about what might be helpful.