My Approach

I work flexibly and creatively providing a bespoke evidence-based intervention to best meet your needs. I am happy to work with you alone, as a couple, with your child, as a family – whichever seems most helpful. I also offer supervision to other clinical psychologists and consultation to other professionals. I adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards and the British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct. I also pursue regular continuing professional development (CPD).

I have experience working in a range of psychological therapies. I work integratively, with a focus on systemic and narrative approaches, as well as drawing on attachment, person centred, solution focused and CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) approaches particularly mindfulness based cognitive therapy. What do all these jargon words mean? Let me try to explain in brief…

Systemic therapy: emphasises the importance of context and understands people and problems in relation to the ‘systems’ they inhabit e.g. their family, community and culture.

Narrative therapy: a non-blaming approach that views problems separate from people and assumes people have many skills, competencies, values, beliefs and abilities that can assist them to reduce the influence of problems in their lives. The ways in which we understand and share the stories of our lives make a difference

Attachment theory: an evidence based account of how dominant patterns in relationships are closely related to childhood experiences of key ‘attachment relationships’ such as relationships with parents.

Solution focused therapy: focuses on solution-building, rather than problem-solving, by exploring existing strengths, resources and future hopes.

Cognitive behavioural therapy: a framework for mapping the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour/actions.

Third-wave/Mindfulness based cognitive therapy: an extension of traditional CBT promoting holistic psychological health and wellbeing; incorporating concepts such as mindfulness, acceptance, compassion and personal value. Focused less on the content of internal experiences and more on how a person relates to these internal experiences. E.g. through the practice of meditation learning to cultivate a more mindful approach to the experience of difficult thoughts and emotions with the aim of developing healthier behavioural patterns.