I aim to provide a space that feels safe, warm, and free from judgment, criticism, or discrimination... With these conditions in place, we can start to explore.
It all begins with me listening carefully... As your thoughts, feelings, and stories begin to emerge, we choose which paths to follow. Sometimes this might include some creative experiments—perhaps a writing exercise or playing with objects; it’s not always just talking and listening.
I will also pay attention to your body, perhaps to the way your breath is moving or noticing what a clenched fist might be trying to communicate. Your body expresses itself in all sorts of ways.
At the center of my practice is a compassionate curiosity and a desire for all the different parts of you to take up space and be heard. I invite you to contemplate that we are not a singular self but a collection of selves. Some parts are more dominant than others, but all are valuable and have something useful to communicate. It may be valuable to do some reorganising to allow quieter and perhaps denied parts to be heard as well. Welcoming all of ourselves can feel like a homecoming—a settling into an experience of self that makes sense.
I work from a position of "What has happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?" We are molded by our experiences and relationships, so we might visit your history and family stories to better understand how you relate to yourself and others. Gathering information can provide a sense of choice; you may want to update some strategies that no longer serve you... What could be different? How can you be different?
Safety and choice also come from connection and the relationship. Not being alone with sadness, distress, and challenge is so very important.