​People often come to therapy feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, low mood, depression or self-doubt, or feeling stuck in patterns they can't quite shift.

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I understand these difficulties as developing over time, shaped by our relationships, life experiences and, for some, trauma. Along the way, we can develop ways of protecting ourselves and managing difficult situations, such as keeping things in, staying on high alert, being hard on ourselves, or looking for ways to escape or numb difficult feelings. While these responses may have helped us cope at one time, they can become long-standing patterns that continue even when they are no longer helpful.

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Over time, living with these patterns can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low or alone. They can influence how we see ourselves, how we relate to others and how comfortable we feel in our own lives.

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This understanding informs how I work in therapy. We slow things down, look more closely at what you're experiencing and begin to understand the feelings and patterns that have developed over time and the experiences that have shaped them.

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Rather than trying to fix things or offer advice, therapy involves becoming more aware of what you're feeling, thinking and experiencing, and developing a better understanding of yourself. As we begin to make sense of things, there can be more room for you to relate to your experiences, yourself and others in new ways, and feel less bound by familiar patterns, with more choice in how you approach and respond to different situations.
 

There isn't one way that change looks or feels. For some, it might involve small or significant shifts in how they understand themselves, relate to others or respond to familiar situations. For others, it might mean feeling less overwhelmed by difficult emotions or more able to manage life's challenges. It could also involve feeling that you've worked through something that has been difficult or troubling, developing a stronger sense of yourself, becoming more accepting of who you are, feeling more connected to others or finding greater enjoyment and meaning in everyday life. 

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The changes that matter most are personal to you. This is why therapy is collaborative, with the direction of our work shaped by what feels important and relevant to you. This doesn't mean you need to have all the answers; we find the direction together. A big part of my role is to help you make sense of things, sometimes by asking questions that open up new ways of thinking and understanding.

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