" Our first session has been, well, transformative. My trajectory has completely changed. I still have quite some work to do but this is the first time in my life I’ve addressed these issues and I’m actually excited to see how much better I can be." - John
The Somatic Approach
Together we create a safe and connected space where you can, at your own pace, open to evolving feelings, body states, interpretations, meanings, and inner conflicts surrounding your situation, moving ever deeper beneath the surface detailed narrative.
Utilising the impact of the presenting situation as a trailhead, we follow your mind's curiosity and body's signals down a unique path to unearth deeper themes, formative events, core beliefs and most importantly, aspects of yourself that you may have lost contact with, buried or 'let go'. These integral aspects often hold the illusive key to understanding your present circumstances, and the healing lies in welcoming them back into your heart.
Making this courageous exploration of your inner landscape frequently results in a profound shift in understanding, allowing a new vantage point from which to reassess current challenges and those that lie ahead. This approach leads to a progressively deeper connection to your essence and inner world, fostering healing, self-compassion, and inner peace.
I utilise trauma-informed Compassionate Inquiry and Internal Family Systems techniques, whose gentle yet direct nature allows tangible benefits to be observed from just a few sessions, providing a foundation for charting our future course.
To begin, please schedule a complimentary 15-minute chat session with me to assess whether this somatic approach to therapy aligns with your specific needs and objectives.
Therapies
Each session is centered around your individual needs and will be customized accordingly. However, below are some detail on the techniques that are commonly used in the words of their founders.
Compassionate Inquiry
Gabor Mate
"At the heart of a Compassionate Inquiry session is a collaborative and client-centered somatic psychotherapeutic process that allows you to explore your emotional and psychological patterns with curiosity and compassion.
During the session, you'll work closely with your therapist to gain insight into your inner experiences, develop emotional regulation techniques, and enhance self-awareness to promote healing and growth.
Our therapists approach each session with compassion, curiosity, and non-judgment to help you achieve clarity and understanding. Together, we'll set an intention for the inquiry and focus on a recent triggering situation. From there, we'll delve deeper into the messages and truths held in your mind and body, with your therapist assisting you every step of the way."
Internal Family Systems
Richard Schwartz
"Have you ever experienced an internal conflict where one part of you agrees with something while another part disagrees?
IFS therapy sessions are designed to help you identify and resolve these internal conflicts by exploring the different parts of yourself with compassion and understanding. It's not uncommon to find protective parts, wounded parts, manager parts, and even exiled parts running our inner system.
Through collaborative and client-centered IFS therapy, therapists guide you in connecting with each part to uncover its characteristics, emotions, and behaviors. This will help you recognize how your parts interact with each other and contribute to your mental health concerns.
IFS sessions are a collaborative process that encourages you to approach your internal parts with curiosity and compassion, leading to greater self-awareness, personal growth, and improved mental health."
Mindfullness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, without distractions or judgement. This approach can promote relaxation and reduce stress by helping individuals remain focused on the present. It's a powerful tool that can aid in managing difficult emotions and situations.
To achieve mindfulness, it's necessary to pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without attempting to control them. This means being fully aware of your surroundings and the sensory experiences they provide.
While the principles of mindfulness are rooted in Buddhist meditation, this practice can be beneficial for anyone seeking to improve their self-awareness and overall well-being.
"Trauma is not the event that inflicted the wound. Trauma is the wound that you sustained as a result - and that wound can heal at any time"- Gabor Maté
Online or in person
For psychotherapy, I offer both in-person and online sessions, utilizing the encrypted Zoom platform.
In-person therapy boasts several advantages, such as the ability to observe subtle nonverbal cues that enhance understanding, a neutral location that fosters comfort in sharing personal information, and a richer, more natural interpersonal connection.
On the other hand, online therapy provides convenience and accessibility, making it particularly beneficial for those with limited mobility, hectic schedules, and individuals who prefer the comfort of their own homes during sessions. However, online therapy does come with additional considerations, including the need for setup, internet connection reliability during video conferencing, and potential risks to data security and privacy on the internet, even though all video calls are end-to-end encrypted where possible.
Ultimately, the choice between in-person and online therapy depends on individual needs and preferences. What's important is attending!
