Individual Therapy in person & online

I work online and in person, depending on your preferences and circumstances. Face-to-face therapy is currently offered in Islington.

Therapy sessions last 50 minutes. Before beginning a course of therapy, we will first meet for an initial consultation (assessment). This gives us an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to therapy, consider what you would like support with, and establish whether we feel able to work together therapeutically. The initial consultation is a prerequisite for beginning ongoing therapeutic work.

Starting therapy can feel like a significant step, and you do not need to have everything worked out before you come. We can begin simply by talking about what is happening for you now and seeing together where that conversation takes us.

Discernment Counselling

Sometimes a couple reaches a point where they are unsure whether they want to continue their relationship. You may feel torn between staying and trying to repair things, and separating or ending the relationship. Perhaps one of you wants to stay while the other is considering leaving. This uncertainty can be painful and exhausting, particularly when you feel unable to make a clear decision.

Discernment Counselling offers a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space to pause and explore what you both really want. It is a brief form of couples therapy, usually taking place over up to five sessions, with the focus on gaining clarity rather than immediately trying to resolve all the difficulties within the relationship.

During our sessions, we can explore the history of your relationship, what has brought you to this point, and the hopes, concerns and feelings that each of you may be carrying. The intention is not to persuade either partner to stay or leave, but to help you understand your options and make a thoughtful decision about the future.

You may be considering:

• Staying together and making a genuine commitment to working on the relationship.
• Separating or divorcing, and exploring what this decision may mean for you both.
• Beginning couples therapy, with the intention of rebuilding and deepening your relationship.

Discernment Counselling can be particularly helpful when you feel stuck, uncertain or divided about what to do next. You do not have to arrive with the answer. We can take the time to understand where you both are and what feels possible.

My role is to provide a calm and balanced space where both partners can speak honestly, be heard, and reflect on the choices ahead without judgement or pressure.

Couples Therapy 

Relationships can be deeply rewarding, but they can also become difficult, especially when communication breaks down or you find yourselves having the same arguments without being able to resolve them. Sometimes you may feel disconnected from one another, unsure how to reconnect, or worried about where your relationship is heading.

Couples therapy offers a safe and supportive space for both of you to slow things down, be heard, and explore what is happening within your relationship. You do not have to wait until your relationship is in crisis to seek support. Therapy can be helpful whether you are experiencing ongoing difficulties, recovering from a breakdown in the relationship, or simply wanting to strengthen your connection.

Every couple is different, and there is no single approach that works for everyone. Your relationship may be affected by pressures from work, family tensions, financial difficulties, differences in expectations, power imbalances, or questions around the nature of your relationship, including monogamous, open or polyamorous relationships. At times, fears, hurt or uncertainty can make it difficult to talk openly about what you really feel or need.

My aim is to provide a space where both partners can feel respected and listened to, without judgement or taking sides. Together, we can begin to understand the patterns that may be keeping you stuck and explore ways of communicating and relating that feel healthier and more meaningful for both of you.

Approaches to Couples Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help couples recognise patterns of thoughts and behaviours that may be contributing to difficulties in the relationship. It can support you in developing more constructive ways of communicating and managing challenges together.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT focuses on understanding the emotions and attachment needs that can sometimes be difficult to recognise or express. The aim is to help couples develop a stronger emotional connection and create a greater sense of safety and security within the relationship.

The Gottman Method
The Gottman Method focuses on strengthening friendship, communication and connection within a relationship. It can help couples understand unhelpful patterns, manage conflict more effectively, and develop skills that can support the relationship over time.

Trauma

There are many different forms and shades of trauma that some of us experience throughout our lives. Living with the residual effects of a traumatic event can be debilitating, and at times it can feel impossible to understand what you are experiencing when you become triggered.

Triggers can be reminders of the past that flood your mind with unpleasant thoughts, memories, or emotions. They can create intense stress and anxiety, making it difficult to remain present in situations where you need to feel grounded and focused.

Trauma is a response to an event or experience that a person has found physically or emotionally threatening or harmful. It can occur at any stage of life and can lead to a range of emotional and psychological responses, both immediately after the event and long after it has happened.

Everyone responds to traumatic experiences differently. Some people may become overwhelmed, shocked, withdrawn, or emotionally closed off. Others may dissociate or struggle to process their feelings because, in that moment, the experience feels too difficult to understand or cope with.

There are three main types of trauma:

Acute trauma — occurs as a result of a single traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, natural disaster, or other life-threatening experience.

Chronic trauma — occurs when a person is repeatedly exposed to traumatic or highly stressful experiences over an extended period of time. Examples can include childhood abuse, exploitation, bullying, domestic abuse, or ongoing violence.

Complex trauma — develops when a person is exposed to multiple traumatic experiences, often involving interpersonal relationships and occurring over a prolonged period. Complex trauma can have a significant impact on a person's sense of safety, trust, relationships, emotional regulation, and understanding of themselves and the world around them.

CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that can support individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, anger, obsessive-compulsive behaviours, and many other difficulties.

A course of CBT typically consists of 6–12 therapy sessions, although this can be extended where appropriate and depending on your individual needs.

CBT focuses on a specific difficulty and works collaboratively with you to develop practical ways of managing it more effectively. If you decide to undertake CBT, we will work together in a structured and supportive way, exploring the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that may be contributing to and maintaining a cycle of stress, distress, or feelings of being overwhelmed.

The aim is to help you develop a better understanding of these patterns and learn practical strategies to make positive and sustainable changes in your life.