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What is Psychotherapy?

Simply put, psychotherapy offers you a confidential environment in which you can express your feelings and gain a deeper insight into your difficulties. As a result you can talk about things you might not feel comfortable discussing with anyone else. The aim is to help you find better ways to cope, or to bring about changes in the way you think and behave that will improve your mental and emotional wellbeing.

If you are hurting inside, or your life just doesn’t seem to be working, talking with friends or family members can sometimes help you feel a little better for a while. However, even the most well intentioned friend can’t provide you with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a treatment process that uses specialised techniques of caring, listening and providing support, insight, guidance and/or suggestions. The process of therapy has been designed to offer effective, long-lasting help for people suffering from a wide range of difficulties, such as emotional distress, anxiety, marital strife, fears, a significant loss, or a clinical disorder. Therapy can also help fulfil aspirations for personal growth or self-improvement.

Psychotherapy has often been called the “talking cure,” since the exchange of words between the client and psychotherapist can appear to be the most obvious form of communication that is going on. In reality, psychotherapy offers a much richer experience than the simple exchange of words and advice. Together with the thoughts and feelings you share and the professional techniques the psychotherapist uses, you will build a relationship that will become an essential part of your therapeutic journey.

Because the relationship with the psychotherapist is so essential to the effectiveness of the process, it is very important that you find someone with whom you feel a comfortable connection, a therapist who makes you feel understood. As therapy progresses and your trust in the therapist’s non-judgmental acceptance of your thoughts and feelings is established, you will actually use the relationship as an opportunity to reshape significant emotional experiences and work through problems in your life.

You may be anxious about what psychotherapy entails or what you need to do in the sessions. This is entirely natural; after all, we don’t usually discuss our innermost thoughts and feelings with a stranger. At its most fundamental, a psychotherapy session is an intimate conversation or dialogue in a safe, private, confidential space, with someone who is trained to listen, reflect on what you say without judgment or expectation and to offer insight where appropriate.

What is Supervision?

I offer supervision of clinical work to registered clinical psychologists who wish to develop and grow in their work.

Supervision is a safe space in which to review your work with clients, to assist you in deepening your theoretical understanding and to enrich your psychotherapeutic work. It is a space in which you can grow, professionally and personally.

I offer supervision on an ad hoc basis or by regular arrangement. Individual or group supervision is available.