What to Expect

What you can expect

The start of therapy can feel quite daunting. The following paragraphs aim to give you an idea of what you can expect from psychotherapy and me.
 

How therapy can work for you

The initial session is an opportunity for us to get to know something about you. We will assess the factors and circumstances that caused you to seek therapy and discuss treatment options including length of therapy. Therapy is a fluid process that can be adjusted to meet your needs as we progress. But you are under no obligation to proceed. If you decide not to work with me or if I feel that what you bring is out of my area of expertise, I am happy to advise you on how to move forward. This could be a recommendation of a different therapist, or of an organisation which might be helpful to you.

Therapy can be the space where you can express yourself freely, without being criticised, shamed, or judged. It may be difficult to talk about some things, but we will work at your pace. I will meet you with empathy, and will help you make sense of the areas of your life causing you distress. I will not tell you how to lead your life but support your own therapeutic process by offering you feedback with compassion and respect.
 

Counselling or Psychotherapy?

Counselling is a shorter-term approach, which tends to be more goal-oriented and focused on the present. Sometimes you may need to talk about something more specific, and find ways of coping in a more time-bound, structured environment.

Psychotherapy is more open-ended and therefore longer-term. It offers more space and time to explore deeper-rooted issues in a slower pace. You may have a recurring pattern that bothers you, or perhaps difficult historical issues or memories which have remained unresolved.

What is Integrative Psychotherapy?

There are many schools of counselling and psychotherapy, such as psychoanalytic, humanistic, and CBT. Integrative means that various elements of such schools become part of one combined approach to therapy. During my training, I formulated my own unique therapeutic approach, consisting of relational psychoanalysis with elements of mindfulness, Gestalt, and body psychotherapy. Please read more about my integration of therapeutic ideas in “About me as a Therapist”.