Openminded therapy
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I work with individual adult clients who are gay, straight, bi, pan, queer, asexual and questioning, and with all genders, including trans, non-binary, genderqueer, cis and agender people. I also work with clients who may find it difficult to access mainstream therapy, including people who are kinky, non-monogamous and polyamorous people, activists, people who have political beliefs outside of the mainstream, sex workers, and people who have alternative belief systems or spiritual practices such as Pagan, Wicca, astrology, and tarot.
I work integratively, incorporating methods from different approaches in order to effectively tailor the counselling work for each individual client, but with a psychodynamic emphasis. This works by me facilitating the client to revisit and reinterpret past experiences in order to identify significant events and the formation of attitudes, reactions and behaviours.
People may seek therapy for a number of reasons - they may have a specific issue which is troubling them, they may be frustrated by repeating patterns of destructive behaviour, they may have low self-esteem and feel hopeless, they may struggle to form or maintain meaningful relationships, they may have issues around trust and intimacy, they may feel overwhelmed by anxiety or fear, they may feel a sense of dissatisfaction with their life but not know how to change it, they may have a mixture of issues or different issues.
Sometimes people are in crisis, such as suffering from burnout, having significant relationship issues, feeling like they don't want to live anymore, or having issues with their identity and sense of self. All of these are valid reasons to seek therapy, whether in crisis or not. I regard therapy as a contained space in which to explore all issues relating to Self, our lifestyle, our life philosophy, relationships, work, play, and our way of relating to ourselves and the world. No one is 'not ill enough' for therapy.
People may have specific issues they would like to work on such as negotiating non-monogamy within a currently monogamous relationship, getting support around leaving an unhealthy relationship, getting support around starting to explore the kinky side of their sexuality, experiencing jealousy in a non-monogamous relationship, or living a more authentic life. Some issues that LGBTQIA+ clients experience in addition to the above may include seeking self acceptance, support in coming out, issues around chemsex and sober sex, exploring their gender identity, or living a queer life in a heteronormative culture.
I sometimes work with men of all sexualities who wish to explore issues around masculinity, the pressure to be 'alpha' and 'strong', difficulties feeling and expressing emotion, issues with relating to self and others, peer pressure, body image, dating, and direction. I provide an empathetic informed space for such explorations.
Please have a look around the site to learn more about me, the way in which I work, the process of therapy and some of the issues I work with, and if you wish to contact me with any questions or to arrange an assessment session please use the Contact Form
People may seek therapy for a number of reasons - they may have a specific issue which is troubling them, they may be frustrated by repeating patterns of destructive behaviour, they may have low self-esteem and feel hopeless, they may struggle to form or maintain meaningful relationships, they may have issues around trust and intimacy, they may feel overwhelmed by anxiety or fear, they may feel a sense of dissatisfaction with their life but not know how to change it, they may have a mixture of issues or different issues.
Sometimes people are in crisis, such as suffering from burnout, having significant relationship issues, feeling like they don't want to live anymore, or having issues with their identity and sense of self. All of these are valid reasons to seek therapy, whether in crisis or not. I regard therapy as a contained space in which to explore all issues relating to Self, our lifestyle, our life philosophy, relationships, work, play, and our way of relating to ourselves and the world. No one is 'not ill enough' for therapy.
People may have specific issues they would like to work on such as negotiating non-monogamy within a currently monogamous relationship, getting support around leaving an unhealthy relationship, getting support around starting to explore the kinky side of their sexuality, experiencing jealousy in a non-monogamous relationship, or living a more authentic life. Some issues that LGBTQIA+ clients experience in addition to the above may include seeking self acceptance, support in coming out, issues around chemsex and sober sex, exploring their gender identity, or living a queer life in a heteronormative culture.
I sometimes work with men of all sexualities who wish to explore issues around masculinity, the pressure to be 'alpha' and 'strong', difficulties feeling and expressing emotion, issues with relating to self and others, peer pressure, body image, dating, and direction. I provide an empathetic informed space for such explorations.
Please have a look around the site to learn more about me, the way in which I work, the process of therapy and some of the issues I work with, and if you wish to contact me with any questions or to arrange an assessment session please use the Contact Form
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of my practice. I passionately believe that therapy should be accessible to all, regardless of class, income, race, sexuality, gender expression, relationship type, health and disability, employment status, or mental health status, and I understand how people with such differences might be affected by prejudice and discrimination.
My Counselling Certificate had a Transcultural approach, which enabled me to examine the cultural and historical influences on my development, to examine my responses to diversity and oppressions, and to recognise the implications of these. I continue to educate myself and reflect on the prevalence of oppression and how it affects people by reading blogs and other writing by PoC, LGBTQI+, non-monogamy, sex worker and feminist academics and activists, and by being aware of the various ways in which oppression impacts upon people.
My therapy is sex positive (yet critical), and body and fat positive. I have a good understanding around issues relating to disability, illness and chronic pain conditions.
I practice Feminist Therapy, which benefits all genders by challenging limited cultural and gender stereotypes, such as female passivity and lack of agency, and male lack of access to emotions and intimacy.
I am a member of Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of my practice. I passionately believe that therapy should be accessible to all, regardless of class, income, race, sexuality, gender expression, relationship type, health and disability, employment status, or mental health status, and I understand how people with such differences might be affected by prejudice and discrimination.
My Counselling Certificate had a Transcultural approach, which enabled me to examine the cultural and historical influences on my development, to examine my responses to diversity and oppressions, and to recognise the implications of these. I continue to educate myself and reflect on the prevalence of oppression and how it affects people by reading blogs and other writing by PoC, LGBTQI+, non-monogamy, sex worker and feminist academics and activists, and by being aware of the various ways in which oppression impacts upon people.
My therapy is sex positive (yet critical), and body and fat positive. I have a good understanding around issues relating to disability, illness and chronic pain conditions.
I practice Feminist Therapy, which benefits all genders by challenging limited cultural and gender stereotypes, such as female passivity and lack of agency, and male lack of access to emotions and intimacy.
I am a member of Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility.
