How I Work My aim is to work in a non-judgemental way offering therapy in Somerset. I am trained in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy, the fundamental principles of which underlie the way I work.
The person-centred approach views the client as their own best authority on their own experience, and it views the client as being fully capable of fulfilling their own potential for growth.
The person-centred approach maintains that three core conditions provide a climate conducive to growth and therapeutic change.
The first -- unconditional positive regard -- means that the counsellor accepts the client unconditionally and non-judgmentally. The client is free to explore all thoughts and feelings, positive or negative, without danger of rejection or condemnation. Crucially, the client is free to explore and to express without having to do anything in particular or meet any particular standards of behaviour to 'earn' positive regard from the counsellor.
The second -- empathic understanding -- means that the counsellor accurately understands the client's thoughts, feelings, and meanings from the client's own perspective. When the counsellor perceives what the world is like from the client's point of view, it demonstrates not only that that view has value, but also that the client is being accepted.
The third -- congruence -- means that the counsellor is authentic and genuine. The counsellor does not present an aloof professional facade, but is present and transparent to the client. There is no air of authority or hidden knowledge, and the client does not have to speculate about what the counsellor is 'really like'.
Finally, as noted at the outset, the person-centred approach takes clients as their own best authorities. The focus of person-centred therapy is always on the client's own feelings and thoughts, not on those of the therapist -- and certainly not on diagnosis or categorization. The person-centred therapist makes every attempt to foster an environment in which clients can encounter themselves and become more intimate with their own thoughts, feelings and meanings.
For example, respect for individuals and differences. I take a creative approach to working with my clients and focus on the relationship before anything else. Research supports the importance of the connection between the client and therapist and the relationship that forms. This does make a difference.
I believe therapy should be about providing a supportive and compassionate environment where truths can be discovered. These could involve how you relate to yourself, others and situations outside the therapy room.
My intention is to be as fully present as possible and to provide supportive listening. I offer a different perspective on your problems. We may discover you want to change or develop and we may encourage and create new found ways of being.
I help you to be the author of your own life.
