How I work
The way that I work is in an existential-phenomenological way. This is a long phrase that is not as complicated as it sounds. Basically it means that unlike some counsellors I do not apply theories to you and I don't diagnose you or 'treat' you. Rather, I give you space and time to talk and be heard in order to work out for yourself how you wish to live your life. I acknowledge that life can be very challenging at times for all of us, and that anxiety and difficult feelings are a part of life, not ailments to be cured.
I won't give you advice or tell you what to do as I have never personally found this to be helpful. It is so easy for an 'expert' psychotherapist or counsellor to give lots of clever ideas and interpretations about a person without this making any actual difference to the way that they feel.
What I will do is engage with you in a real and non-judgemental relationship in which you can work on whatever you need to work on. Existential therapy is about helping you to find your own meanings. I am ready to listen and to help you find a way to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Areas of experience
Having said that I don't deal in issues, there are some areas that I have worked with more than others - and these are set out below. I put them here simply because some clients prefer to find a counsellor who has already had some experience in the particular area that they are working on. However, I come to each client with an enquiring and open attitude, not as an expert.
ageing - alcohol - anxiety - bereavement - depression - divorce - domestic violence - existential crisis - gender - identity - lesbian issues - parenting (particularly lone parenting and children with special needs) - relationships - sexuality - women's issues
