“I am passionate about helping you grow your awareness of self and cultivate self compassion. I look forward to getting to know you and your unique self and all it has to offer those who know you and those you have yet to meet.”
Predominantly therapy is a support service for choosing a different way of being. One that explores your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, beliefs, relationships and life and how each of those is interconnected and means something to you. It may be creating problems or providing safety but for some reason those are no longer acceptable or needed by you or some equivalent of the same. Cultivating your awareness of your experience, understanding the science behind it and choosing the change you want to see.
By Being person centered, this means the client, you, is the center of the work. I believe in collaborating with you, bringing your expertise on yourself and your experiences to the room and meeting you where you are; to begin your journey of growth, change and transformation. A journey that is not only joyous but can be painful and challenging at times. To really know ourselves, our internal selves and our shadow side are important to understand to allow you to let go of what you no longer need and move forward in a new way. A way of your choosing, empowering you to be true to who you really are.
My background of three decades in human services, coming from social care as my career, gave me a very privileged place of service among some of the most vulnerable sectors of society. It allowed me to meet my feminist self, a person who seeks to change the unjust aspects of society by encouraging spaces that are opposite and one that believes in the power of the individual to accumulate and rise out of adversity and stand into their truth. It also afforded me, in my earlier career, the joy of neurodiversity and experiencing with others their strengths and challenges based on the ways their brains view and see the world and the challenges that can bring to thoughts, bodily experiences, sexuality, identity, among others.
Providing quality in service provision is exciting for me. I believe strongly in community as a place of belonging in society and something that needs nurturing as well as relationships.
Applying these values to therapy means; being there with you as you develop your sense of self through healing and change but also recognising you are more than just yourself, there are systems you belong in ( families, schools, communities, workplaces, faiths, cultures, ethnic groups ). These systems come with you when you walk in the door. These are as much a part of you and your essence and your experiences with and in them are important to heal from or lean into, whichever the case may be and often it is both.
Being human is complex and it can hugely help to journey with someone who has the time to listen and be with you and provides a safe space to be vulnerable.
I believe in the science behind mental health and that a resilience based care plan; adopting your chosen lifestyle supports is part of every healing journey. It provides the resources we need when facing what can be a painful process at times. There is a beauty in pain and once we learn to see it and understand our wounds we can turn them into our strength and power.
My preference is to work with your GP and other health professionals to provide a rounded health experience, incorporating physical and mental health care and adopting changes you want to see to promote a healthier you.
Joy and laughter are hugely important to therapy and we will explore your joy also, to include it in your personal resources and self care regimen.
Outside of family and friendships and my work. My joy is found in nature, dogs, gardens, birds and the beach. I also enjoy books, film and creativity and culture was something I learned from my lovely mum.
I am open to any question you may have and look forward to meeting you, either online or in person.
In the meantime, take gentle care.