Background

My practice is shaped by a rich background in environmental sustainability and permaculture practices. This supports the notion, that given the right conditions we are naturally oriented towards growth and abundance. Permaculture - a design system for creating sustainable human environments, which draws inspiration from natural ecosystems - highlights that our abundance and health is sustainable only when other living things around us can thrive also. We are an eco-system that has capacity for deep health, connection and wellbeing. If others suffer, so do we. Psychotherapy tends to this return to an authentic self, to hopefully yield a well and contented enough human being - but also a contented being in connection with the wider world.

I incorporate, if suitable, somatic work and breathe work - working with trauma in this way - helping us return to the present moment as well as diving into the past. Our sessions may not always be restricted to talking, but inviting space to be still and present.

“If I’m not talking then I am wasting my session,”

This is a common worry I have heard from clients. Yet there can be a lot of talking and little connection. What is it like just being with someone, being in relationship without words? Without focussing on what is being spoken, we are more able to tune in to what is being felt. When we’re not always talking, we can start to truly listen.

I have a background in art, with a degree in Fine Art. Psychotherapy is an incredibly creative practice for me. This can be in the form of drawing or mark making in the therapy space if we wish, but the creativity for me is more in the spontaneous and immediate experience that is therapy. I like to draw parallels between psychotherapy and painting freely or stand-up comedy! It’s an alive, in-the moment, spontaneous phenomenon that, without realising, produces something beautiful.

I hold value in the relational aspects of being in therapy. Relational psychotherapy concerns what it truly is to be in relationship, with another person, with oneself, with nature and other-than-human life; the weather, trees, birdsong, plants, pets. In the therapy space this lightly challenges any preconceptions of us as isolated beings, or that we don’t impact one another. This can be quite alarming, when we may often experience ourselves as alone, cut off, singular. Much of my traversing through my own therapy has highlighted the challenges held in staying in relationship with others and the world, (and it is a challenging world) when the impulse may be to withdraw or shrink back.

My Training & Experience

I have over 9 years’ experience working with individuals in private practice and hold an MA and Professional Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy.

This means I have studied and learned a variety of theories, both traditional and contemporary from the last 100 years:

Relational Therapy: I blend leading psychological approaches—including person-centred, psychodynamic, psychoanalytic (Freud), self-psychology, systemic, existential, transpersonal (Jung), eco-psychological, and more—into a cohesive, client-led process. This means you receive a tailored, holistic experience designed to meet your needs.

Eco-psychological: exploring the deep connection between human well-being and nature, viewing the disconnection from nature as a root cause of psychological and ecological problems.

I am IFS (Internal Family Systems) informed, which supports and integrates with my eco-psychological approaches as we become more aware of our ‘parts’ and how to reach a sense of wholeness and then a connection to a greater whole.

Trauma-Informed & Inclusive: I am experienced in supporting healing from trauma, PTSD, sexual abuse, addiction, grief, eco-distress, activist burnout, and experiences of oppression or discrimination. 

I have extensive experience working with, but not be limited to: unbearable loss, unearthed abuse, grief, chronic illness, life-threatening illness, eating disorders, climate / eco-anxiety and grief, PTSD and complex PTSD, addictions, addictions and unhealthy relationships with technology and the smartphone, social media saturation, childhood neglect, family relationships and childhood experiences, miscarriage and abortion, women and those who menstruate menstrual – cycle – awareness, emotional and developmental abuse and trauma, childhood sexual abuse, abusive relationships in adulthood, sexual identity and orientation, relationship to sex and sexual intimacy, family illness, narcissistic wounding in families, ADHD, autism, self – harming and destructive behaviours, separation anxiety, social anxiety, relationship difficulties.

These lists can feel exhaustive and it’s important to state we are not constrained to one, though one may speak to us more loudly. We are likely to span over many, and they are in some way all connected. I have likely not named many that are within the web of human experience, and that may arise in your therapy with me.

Contact

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly.