I am committed to supporting my clients to tap into their inner resources and harness an awareness of obstacles preventing them from experiencing the wellbeing and quality of life they desire. By supporting the client to make an independent and informed choice regarding their available solutions, the client is empowered and self-directed in coming to terms with their past and creating a more satisfying here and now experience.
My approach to counselling and psychotherapy integrates a range of researched and evidenced based theories related to mind, behaviour and emotion. My work is grounded in attachment and systems theory, is client-centred, humanistic, trauma informed and adheres to Rogerian values. Carl Rogers developed Client Centered therapy in the 1940’s and 1950’s and believed a collaborative and non-directive therapeutic approach could facilitate growth and healing within the client. Rogers identified the relationship between client and therapist as being a vital aspect of successful therapy. “…Rogers made it clear that the client was the center of the therapeutic process and furthermore it was the client who had the final say as to whether the ‘therapist-provided conditions’ were actually provided…” (Sanders, 2006, p. 76). Rogers respected the client as expert of their own life and endeavoured to explore their issues, rather than jump to conclusions or assume client expectations of therapy had been met. As a Rogerian oriented therapist, I am interested in the client as a whole person, who they are in their world of people and the experiences that have shaped them. Furthermore, being able to identify a cluster of symptoms that relate to a particular diagnosis is important and does provide a framework for treatment and a roadmap for successful therapy outcomes. I respect every client is unique and more than the diagnosis or set of symptoms they present with.