The words psychotherapy and counselling have various definitions and are often used interchangeably. Generally, 'counselling' is used to describe short-term therapy focused around a specific issue or problem whilst 'psychotherapy' describes a deeper longer-term process through which the client seeks to gain insight into their emotions, personality, and understanding of the world and their place in it. Here, I use the word 'therapy' to include both.

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One of the central aims of therapy is the development of self-insight, something that can be useful and illuminating in a variety of ways. Cultivating self-insight could involve looking at how one feels/behaves/relates to others as well as why this may be. It could involve looking at the past to consider how it affects the way we live in the present, as well as looking at how the way we look at the future affects how we work towards it. The idea is that greater understanding can help people to both act and feel differently.

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My primary discipline is Transactional Analysis, a flexible therapy that draws on psychodynamic, person centred, and cognitive behavioural theory. One of its primary interests is looking at how an individual relates both to others and to themselves; drawing attention to patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours they may be struggling with and working to encourage greater insight and change. Transactional Analysis aims to have a theoretical base that is accessible to all. There are many concepts and tools that can be shared during therapy. At the heart of Transactional Analysis is the therapeutic relationship, based upon empathy and openness.

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First coming to therapy can be daunting, people often have little idea what to expect and can be unsure exactly what they want from it. As each client and each therapist are unique, each therapeutic experience will be different and unfolds as a process rather than in a predetermined order. My approach is flexible and based around the needs of each individual client.