I am a psychotherapist (counsellor / psychologist) and EMDR-Europe approved consultant practicing in Brackley, Northants. I work with adults with a wide range of issues and specialise in the area of trauma and the effects of childhood neglect and abuse. I also provide consultation for therapists.
Since the early 1990's I have studied and trained almost continuously in methods of working based on the most current understandings in various related and overlapping fields, choosing those with well-founded theoretical and research-backed foundations. (You can read more about my professional training in the page 'Credentials and Affiliations')
This background equips me, I believe, to work flexibly according to the needs of each person and to adapt the way of working to each one's specific needs and preferences. At the same time, I believe the relationship between myself and the client is by far the most important element leading to a good outcome.
I see the working relationship as a collaboration between the client and myself, as I aim to tune in to what feels right for him or her, exploring the likely reasons why certain symptoms or problems are there and explaining how we can work together to shift them. (For the kinds of symptoms and problems I work with please see pages 'More about trauma' and 'The range of problems.’)
I am very interested in the way that the mind and sense of self organises itself from the earliest days, when this organisation is dependent on a good-enough relationship with the primary care-giver, (usually the mother), how the structure of the sense of self can vary so much from one person to another, and in the same person over a period of time. I am also interested in the mind's tendency for self-organisation and healing, but how this can at times become stuck and need some help to get it going again.
I work with a model of the self-structure that facilitates healing from trauma, and develops in the client a stronger, more integrated sense of the self in the present, with the past becoming settled. When this happens, one becomes free to thrive, unfettered by any past negative experiences, to have more self-confidence and the ability to make choices more freely.
Since the early 1990's I have studied and trained almost continuously in methods of working based on the most current understandings in various related and overlapping fields, choosing those with well-founded theoretical and research-backed foundations. (You can read more about my professional training in the page 'Credentials and Affiliations')
This background equips me, I believe, to work flexibly according to the needs of each person and to adapt the way of working to each one's specific needs and preferences. At the same time, I believe the relationship between myself and the client is by far the most important element leading to a good outcome.
I see the working relationship as a collaboration between the client and myself, as I aim to tune in to what feels right for him or her, exploring the likely reasons why certain symptoms or problems are there and explaining how we can work together to shift them. (For the kinds of symptoms and problems I work with please see pages 'More about trauma' and 'The range of problems.’)
I am very interested in the way that the mind and sense of self organises itself from the earliest days, when this organisation is dependent on a good-enough relationship with the primary care-giver, (usually the mother), how the structure of the sense of self can vary so much from one person to another, and in the same person over a period of time. I am also interested in the mind's tendency for self-organisation and healing, but how this can at times become stuck and need some help to get it going again.
I work with a model of the self-structure that facilitates healing from trauma, and develops in the client a stronger, more integrated sense of the self in the present, with the past becoming settled. When this happens, one becomes free to thrive, unfettered by any past negative experiences, to have more self-confidence and the ability to make choices more freely.