While there are many approaches used by counsellors, the key for me is building a relationship with you that is supportive and empathic. A respectful and hopeful relationship is the foundation on which we build our work together.

The counselling process is collaborative. It's a team effort. My job is to walk beside you as you explore what you need to talk about. By empathically listening to your story and then as we discuss together your feelings, thoughts and behaviours, you will develop greater understanding of the issue and new ways of responding.  

About my approach to counselling

My approach to counselling is based on Gestalt Therapy, which I first encountered 20 years ago. Gestalt made a huge impression on me at a personal level and then professionally. What I encountered was a process that worked with my whole being - feelings, thoughts, behaviours and the world around me. As a client I felt heard, respected and also challenged. I knew the counsellor was on my side, even when they were asking me tough questions or challenging me to make changes that I wanted at my own pace. The process was also experiential. I didn't just talk about the situation, I also tried out different ways of understanding and ideas for change.

From the professional side, Gestalt attracted me because at its core it is concerned with the quality of the relationships we form with ourselves, with others and with the world. As a counsellor I will be fully present with you to help you expand your awareness of what you feel and think, what you want for yourself and what gets in the way of change. My focus will be with how you increase your ability to meet your needs and to reduce the barriers that hinder this process.

As we talk through the issue, I will use a variety of techniques and processes to assist you to build awareness of your current situation. This includes your feelings, thoughts and how you act. We then move to exploring what you would like to be different. This may include resolving relationship issues from the present or the past. It may also involve developing ways to resolve unmet needs or desires. What makes counselling different from talking with a friend or family member is that I will be holding a space for hope - by discussing things together, we will be able to find a solution.

I also incorporate into my practice techniques from the New Zealand developed method, Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT). This method provides ways of exploring issues by drawing on ‘right brain’ creative and emotional functioning and then integrating that with more ‘left brain’ oriented thinking processes. IDT is especially helpful with people who find talking about their issues difficult or who experience unresolved traumas.

The idea of drawing can seem scary for some people, raising memories of school and concerns about being judged as an artist. The drawing involved in IDT is not about the quality of artwork, rather it is a way to tap into what you already know about yourself and the problem that you have forgotten or discounted. It is a very freeing experience.

Awareness + contact + action = change