top of page

what is psychotherapy?

psychotherapy is a deeper process which happens over a longer term and addresses patterns developed in the past, often set early in life.

 

a psychotherapist will have engaged in weekly psychotherapy themselves over a period of at least 4 years

psychotherapy clients have often experienced adverse events as children or young people such as

  • physical, sexual, and emotional abuse

  • emotional and physical neglect

  • living with a family member with mental health or substance use disorders

  • witnessing domestic violence

  • sudden separation from a loved one

  • poverty

  • discrimination

  • violence in the community

 

adults who experienced any of these will also probably have developmental deficits; developmental tasks which could not be completed at the appropriate time; they may be unable to identify and manage emotions; may struggle to regulate themselves; may be hostile in relationships or shrink from them; may not think well of themselves; or have a good sense of who they are. 

 

psychotherapy helps clients to 

  • process experiences that could not be processed at the time (trauma) because there was no one there for them who was emotionally intelligent and attuned to them

  • explore their relationship patterns

  • develop a balance of nurture and structure in their life

  • identify feelings, needs and wants

  • be more self-focussed if they are pre-occupied with others and less self-focussed if they are pre-occupied with themselves

  • learn how to set boundaries in relationships to protect themselves

  • strengthen their Adult ego state so are less affected by old, unhelpful parent messages and less likely to tumble into old, unhelpful patterns of behaviour   

​

working contract

​therapeutic process: i carry out an initial assessment interview to see if we both feel we can work together. We then agree on a specific number of sessions. At the end of this we jointly assess our progress and decide whether further sessions will be helpful. If we cannot work together wherever possible I will assist you by providing alternative contacts.

​

sessions: are weekly at a regular time; they last for fifty minutes (or 1 hour for couples). If you are late arriving for a session we will terminate at the usual time to allow me to fulfil my other appointments for the day.

​

contact: I have a telephone answering machine. If I need to contact you, I just leave my name and number. If this is not acceptable please let me know.

​

confidentiality: I treat all information disclosed to me by you as confidential. However, if I believe that you are in danger of harming yourself or others, or that a child is at risk, I reserve the right to inform outside agencies but would not do, wherever possible, without discussing this with you first. If you disclose information about certain criminal or terrorist offences I have a professional obligation to tell outside agencies without informing you first.

bottom of page