My Online Services
01.
I am trained as both a psychodynamic and person-centred counsellor. But I work in an integrative and pluralistic way, which means that I believe each person is unique and will need something different from counselling. I will work with you collaboratively to find the best way to help you and draw on a combination of different methods and approaches to do this. I also offer a pure version of IFS therapy (see below) if you would like to work in this way.
​
I can offer a safe space to explore whatever you feel is holding you back in life, and work with you to find ways forward. I offer both medium to longer term therapy. I usually recommend starting with six sessions to really see how it feels and see if we are the right fit for each other, but there is no obligation to work past the first session if my approach doesn’t suit you. I currently only work online. Find out more on my contact page.
02.
My approach is based on an understanding of the mind-body connection, the neuroscience of pain and what can cause pain to persist, even when there is no tissue damage.
If you are struggling with chronic pain, or other stress-related conditions, and you have had injury and serious disease ruled out by a medical professional, you may be feeling:
-
stuck
-
anxious
-
and frustrated.
I can help you to explore the underlying causes of your symptoms. The pain you are feeling is real, but all pain is created by the brain. Chronic physical symptoms can be fuelled by emotional issues, both in your past and in the present. These can include fear of the symptoms themselves (the pain-fear cycle), the effect of adverse childhood experiences, traumatic life events, and current relationship or work stressors.
​
As an integrative counsellor, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and SIRPA-trained practitioner, I will use a range of approaches to help you. These may include: psychoeducation about pain; tools and strategies to help calm your nervous system; and a focus on emotional work. You will get to know your system and gain more balance, which in turn can alleviate physical symptoms. Emotional work is key to the process and will involve developing your emotional awareness so that you can recognise when situations or people activate you. I will also help you to discover any beliefs about yourself that you may have carried from a young age, which are no longer helping you, and are likely to be driving your symptoms.
-
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapy which can be very effective for working with mind-body issues. You can find out more about IFS in the section below.
-
You can find out more about SIRPA by visiting the SIRPA website.
A resources page for chronic pain will be available on my website soon.
03.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based model of psychotherapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz in the US in the 1980s. Building on some of the aspects from other models of therapy, the IFS model assumes:
​
-
We all have a core self that cannot be damaged, and therefore we all have the ability to heal from difficult experiences / trauma.
-
It is natural for humans to be multiple. We all have different parts or aspects to our personalities which help us to function in the world - like an internal family or like an ecosystem in nature made up of an interacting community of living organisms.
-
As a result of adverse childhood experiences or traumatic events, some parts get wounded and others can become extreme in their efforts to protect the self and the wounded parts. This can show up as problematic feelings and behaviours, like anxiety, depression or addictions.
-
Developing compassion and understanding towards all of our parts can restore balance to our system and bring about positive changes in our lives.
​
Find out more about IFS on the IFS Institute website and by watching the videos below.
"We all have parts…modern neuroscience has confirmed this notion of the mind as a kind of society…IFS focuses on cultivating an inner relationship between the self and the various protective parts…the self is like an orchestra conductor who helps all the parts function harmoniously"
Dr Rangan Chatterjee interviews Dr Dick Schwartz about Internal Family Systems.
Dr Tori Olds gives a shorter explanation of Internal Family Systems.