As a Psychotherapist I work mainly using a psychodynamic relational approach, based on Transactional Analysis. This involves:
- Focus on affect and expression of emotion
- Exploration of attempts to avoid distressing thoughts/feelings
- Identification of recurring themes and patterns
- Discussion of past experience
- Focus on interpersonal relationships
- Focus on the relationship between the therapist and client
- Exploration of one’s inner world (e.g., desires, fears, fantasies, dreams, etc.)
Our beliefs about ourselves and our relationships can easily leave us feeling pulled in many directions. We may behave in ways that are more powerful than our logical reasoning would have us behave. I am interested in helping people to become more aware of the conflicting and often less understood sides of themselves that contribute to their personal relationship problems.
Transactional Analysis believes that positive change in life doesn’t come about just by understanding our mind, but by understanding the way we relate to others and to ourselves. The idea is that we tend to relate from one of three distinct ‘ego’ states; Parent, Adult or Child. By learning about how we behave in each ego state, the conflicting sides of ourselves, including fear of intimacy or closeness, fear or avoidance of anger or hostility, self-sabotage or self-attack, or lack of boundaries between ourselves and others become clear and gradually changed within the therapeutic relationship.
Sometimes it is not the obvious content of a therapy session which brings about change or growth, but the relational process of having a safe supportive counselling relationship which can help you to gain freedom from your fears and anxieties and to explore new ways of being so that you can start to change how you relate to others and to yourself and to get the results you want in life and form more stable relationships
If you are feeling some kind of personal despair or dissatisfaction with your life, therapy can help you to understand your internal process so together we can work through issues in order to bring a sense of purpose and fulfilment. Often you might not know exactly what the issue is, the conflict feels like it is in your head and you may feel there is something not right and you need to explore it.
People who I see in my psychotherapy practice often tell me they feel more confident, calmer, and have improved relationships as a result of therapy. They also tell me they feel more in control and able to cope with future challenges.
