There are many different approaches to psychotherapy, finding the most suitable one for you can help you feel more comfortable in the environment, and can meet different needs at different times of healing.
I approach therapy in a relationally psychodynamic way. That probably doesn't mean much to most, so I will break it down for you. It comes from a belief that human suffering, on the most part, comes down to wounds inflicted in relationships throughout our lives. The blueprint of how you relate to others throughout your life, how it has helped or hindered you, is a great tool to help you understand how you have come to be, how it relates to your current issues, and to identify any changes you would like to make going forward.
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The client-therapist relationship that we build gives us great insight into understanding this, therefore building an open and honest culture that is mutual and respectful, safe and supportive, will be an essential element of our sessions. If there are unhelpful patterns of relating, I am keen to use our interactions to safely try something different to break these patterns, and helping you build a tolerance as we explore the issues you bring to therapy.
Working in a gentle and honest way doesn't always come naturally based on how we are naturally filtered in society, and is a skill we will build together over time. Being brave enough to understand ourselves on a deeper level, embracing both the good parts and the parts we like less about ourselves, and use it to inform us on how we are with others, and if there is anything we would like to change in that respect.
The role of a therapist is not to heal or advise you on what to do, but to together build a clearer picture to gain awareness and deepen understanding of yourself. The process of doing this in itself can provide you more healing and agency to decide how to navigate lifes issues you come across.
If this sparks your interest and want to discuss it further, please send me a message.
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