Therapeutic Approaches
People often ask what type of therapy I offer, or what the different approaches mean. You do not need to understand therapeutic theory to benefit from psychotherapy, and many clients never read this page at all. However, if you are curious, or would like to know more about how I work, this page offers an overview.
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Therapy is not a one size fits all process, and no single model can fully capture the complexity of human experience. As an integrative therapist, I draw from multiple therapeutic approaches and theories to tailor our sessions to your individual needs. Sessions are shaped around you, your history, relationships, and current circumstances.
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By integrating different modalities and perspectives, therapy can respond to emotional, relational, psychological, and existential aspects of your experience, rather than focusing narrowly on symptoms or diagnoses.
​​Person centred and humanistic foundations
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At the heart of my work is a person centred and humanistic approach. This means I work from the belief that people are not broken or deficient, but doing the best they can within the context of their lives and experiences.
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Therapy is collaborative rather than directive. You are met with empathy, respect, and acceptance, and your pace and priorities guide the work. The therapeutic relationship itself is central, providing a safe and consistent space where trust can develop.
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Psychodynamic theory
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Psychodynamic therapy explores how early life experiences, relationships, and unconscious processes can shape the way we feel, think, and relate in the present. Many patterns develop early in life as ways of coping, and while they may once have been protective, they can later feel confusing, limiting, or distressing.​
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This approach can be particularly helpful when difficulties feel longstanding or repetitive, such as recurring relationship struggles, strong emotional reactions, or a sense of inner conflict.
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​Attachment informed work
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Attachment theory looks at how our earliest relationships influence our sense of safety, trust, and connection with others. These early patterns can affect how we relate in adult relationships, how we respond to closeness or distance, and how we experience support.
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In therapy, this perspective can help make sense of relational difficulties, emotional sensitivity, fear of abandonment, or struggles with dependence and independence.
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Systemic and relational approaches
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Systemic therapy recognises that we are shaped by our relationships, families, and wider systems. Emotional distress does not exist in isolation, but often develops within relational and social contexts. Therapy can explore how relational dynamics, roles and expectations affect emotional wellbeing.
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This way of working is particularly helpful in couples work and when exploring family dynamics, communication patterns, roles, and expectations that may be contributing to current difficulties.
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Somatic approaches
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Somatic approaches acknowledge the connection between mind and body. Emotional experiences are not held only in thoughts, but also in the nervous system and physical body.
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Where appropriate, therapy may include gentle attention to bodily sensations, stress responses, and patterns of activation or shutdown. This can be especially supportive for people who have experienced trauma, chronic stress, or illness.
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Existential psychotherapy
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Existential psychotherapy recognises that emotional distress is often connected not only to symptoms or patterns, but to deeper questions about meaning, identity, loss, and how we make sense of our lives.
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This approach can be particularly supportive for people who are grieving, coming to terms with their own mortality, reflecting on end of life concerns, or navigating major life transitions that challenge previously held beliefs or assumptions. Therapy offers space to explore uncertainty, fear, and loss, alongside questions about values, purpose, and responsibility. Through this process, many clients develop a stronger sense of meaning, agency, and acceptance.
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Transpersonal psychotherapy
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Transpersonal psychotherapy recognises that human experience can include spiritual, symbolic, and expanded states of awareness. It explores how experiences of consciousness, imagination, creativity, and spirituality can play a meaningful role in psychological healing and personal growth.
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Therapy may offer space to reflect on spiritual experiences, dreams, creativity, or significant inner experiences. No particular belief system is required, and spiritual language is never imposed.
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Transpersonal psychology also provides a framework for psychedelic integration. This work does not involve the use of substances within therapy, but offers a safe, ethical, and supportive space to process and make sense of past psychedelic or altered state experiences. Integration work can help explore insights, emotional material, or shifts in perspective, supporting these experiences to be meaningfully integrated into everyday life and wellbeing.
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Parts work and Internal Family Systems informed approaches
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Parts based approaches recognise that we all have different aspects or parts of ourselves, such as critical, protective, vulnerable, or younger parts. These parts often develop in response to earlier experiences and usually have protective intentions, even when they cause distress.
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Therapy can support greater understanding and compassion towards these parts, helping to reduce inner conflict and support emotional integration.
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What this means for you
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In practice, this means therapy with me is flexible and responsive. We may explore thoughts, feelings, relationships, bodily experiences, or questions of meaning, depending on what feels most relevant.
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There is no expectation to talk in a particular way or to engage with any approach that does not feel helpful. Therapy is shaped collaboratively, with curiosity, care, and respect for your experience.
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If you have questions about how I work, or would like to explore whether therapy feels right for you, you can get in touch to arrange an initial conversation.​
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