My therapeutic approach
I specialise in Transactional Analysis, an inclusive and flexible psychotherapeutic model that is well-suited for working with individuals, couples, and groups around a wide range of issues.
No one is the same, so my approach is individually tailored to each client and their own unique needs. As part of this personalised approach, I will be empathically attuned to you, paying close attention to what happens between us in the therapy space.
The survival strategies we learn early in life often unconsciously impact (positively and negatively) how we experience the world in the here-and-now, so we may explore aspects of your past.
Some clients find creative activities helpful for understanding and processing what is going on for them, while others find outdoor spaces help them to find clarity, calm and connection. I am happy to facilitate these activities if you feel they may help you.
What is Transactional Analysis?
Transactional Analysis is an established and accessible type of psychotherapy. Its core values are:
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Everyone is 'OK': at a fundamental level, we are all equally valuable, important, and worthy of dignity and love, regardless of the beliefs we hold, the thoughts and feelings we have, or the things we do.
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We can all think: we all have the capacity to think for ourselves, know our own truth, and take action to solve our own problems.
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People decide their own destiny and have the power to change these decisions at any time in their lives: we all naturally tend towards personal, psychological, relational, and spiritual growth. We may find that this 'life energy' gets blocked at different points in our lives, but it's never obliterated, and we have the inner resources to release it, whether we're 18 or 80!
One of TA's foundational theories is that our inner selves are made up of three 'ego states' that direct our thoughts, feelings and behaviour: Parent, Adult and Child.
In Parent, we think, feel and behave in ways we have learned or borrowed from parental figures or influential others. In Child, we replay thoughts, feelings and behaviours we developed as children to survive and get our needs met. In Adult, our thoughts, feelings and behaviours directly respond to the here-and-now.
We constantly move between these states as we navigate through life. By exploring in therapy how they interact and overlap, we can better understand ourselves and our relationships. This self-knowledge allows us to explore possibilities for change and growth.
