Relational Therapy
I call myself a “relational therapist” because, whoever we are, we must relate in some way to others and to our environment. Relationship is the essence of life. Relational therapy is about understanding Who I Am in relationship to Who You Are. As “relational therapist” I value and respect you as a person and what you bring to therapy. Much of my training is in the Creative Therapies, which includes Gestalt, Drama therapy and Psychodrama. Working in this way opens space to move, grow and change.
Experience
Qualifications
- M.A. Counselling Studies, dip.PC, Cert.Ed.
- Post.Grad. in Adults Abused in Childhood
- Cert Psychotherapy in Dissociative Disorders
- NSP in Psychodrama Cert.
- Cert.NT. Drama Therapy
- Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- United Kingdom Registered Independent Counsellor (UKRC)
From 1992 to 1998 I worked as a counsellor at a GP surgery, as a staff counsellor at large city hospital and for a child and family project. I encountered many areas of need: Loss, depression, bullying, anxiety / panic attacks, religious / spiritual struggles, family conflict and abandonment, broken relationships and loneliness. People came with low self-esteem, traumatic experiences recent and in the past, questions about sexuality, sexual orientation, eating disorders, obsessional behaviour caused by entrapping thoughts and emotions.
Present
Since 1998 I have worked as an independent practitioner continuing to develop an holistic and creative approach which supports a person in their search for resolution of inner conflict. The aim is in improves a person’s quality of life. I supervise both trainee and qualified counsellors.
Together with a colleague, Jill, we have begun a professional partnership called Creative Space offering workshops for abuse survivors, students in counsellor training, couples and individuals.
Over the last 5 years I have increased my theoretical study into DID (dissociative identity disorder) and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Family dysfunction and childhood trauma cause conflicts later on in life, particularly within intimate relationships.
Training in dramatherapy and psychodrama has provided me with creative techniques which are very effective tools in resolving this mind / body / spiritual damage.