There could be all kinds of reasons you’re here.

I think we intuitively know that our life experiences shape us into the people we are today.

Our early experiences are particularly significant in this process. As we’re growing up, we quickly learn to adapt to the world (and the people) around us. 

We’re shaped by the way family members interact with us and with each other. By the neighbourhood we grow up in, what school was like, and the examples and expectations of other people. 

The roles we play

We use this information to work out which ‘role’ to play in life. The fixer, the carer, the performer, the hard worker, the peacemaker, the provider, among many others.

These roles are based on the beliefs develop about ourselves, others, and our place in the world.

Feeling stuck

While these roles help us get by as we’re growing up, they can require too much of us as adults. They can make it difficult for us to make decisions and create a life that’s truly ours. This struggle might crop up in different ways for you. 

Overthinking. 

Worrying. 

Replaying conversations or doubting your decisions. 

Being the person that everyone else comes to when they’re struggling, but not finding it easy to open up yourself. 

Planning for every possible scenario, or finding it hard to plan at all. 

Being harsher to yourself than you’d ever be to a friend. 

Feeling guilty if you do something just for you. 

Being so productive that you rarely stop.

Finding it impossible to make a decision, or second-guessing the decisions you do make.

These things might have been happening for so long that you hardly notice any more, or it just feels part of your personality. 

Counselling gives us new choices.

 

In therapy, we’ll take notice of the role you’ve learned to play and explore the beliefs that have nudged you into it.

This will give you the opportunity to make different choices.

What to expect from therapy with me

Although I draw on a number of different approaches to suit each person I work with, my core training is in transactional analysis (TA).

TA is based on an equal partnership between the client and the therapist. This means we pay attention to how life has shaped you, and notice how this shows up in ways that are making life difficult now. I don’t make decisions for you, or tell you what to do; we explore what’s going on for you together.

In our sessions, I might suggest some creative ways to tune into how you’re feeling. This could be using picture cards, interesting objects, or a sand tray - though it’s completely up to you what you try.

I’ll also regularly check in with you to see how you feel the therapy is going, so we can refocus or make a change if we need to.

Arrange a session

How it works

  • Fill out the contact form and I’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible (usually within 48 hours) to arrange a consultation session.

  • This initial appointment is different to a usual therapy session - we’ll have a wide-ranging conversation about what’s been on your mind, and we’ll explore what it might be like to work together.

    This session lasts 50 minutes and costs £30.

  • If we decide to work together, we’ll meet weekly or fortnightly. You might have a specific number of sessions in mind, or you might prefer to keep it open-ended. I’ll regularly check in with you about how you feel it’s going.

    Each session lasts 50 minutes and costs £60.