Psychotherapy
As a psychodynamic and systemic practitioner, I consider how early relational experiences shape the ways we come to understand ourselves and others, and how emotional life unfolds within the wider contexts of family, education, and social environment. Psychotherapy offers a reflective space in which these patterns can be explored with curiosity and care, allowing new ways of thinking and relating to emerge over time.
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I have spent many years working therapeutically with children, young people, and families, both within clinical settings and in close collaboration with schools and educational services. Over time, my work has increasingly focused on the developmental transition from adolescence into adulthood.
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Today I work primarily with older adolescents and young adults who are navigating questions of identity, relationships, independence, and direction in life. This stage of development often brings renewed awareness of earlier experiences and patterns of relating, and psychotherapy can provide a thoughtful space in which these experiences can be understood more fully. Clients often come to therapy when they are experiencing anxiety, low mood, or periods of uncertainty that feel difficult to navigate alone. Sometimes this may arise during a short-term period of crisis or transition; at other times it reflects ongoing emotional struggles that affect a person’s sense of self, motivation, relationships, or direction in life. Psychotherapy offers a space in which these experiences can be explored with care and understanding, helping young people develop a clearer sense of themselves and how they wish to move forward.
Working with Neurodivergence
Psychotherapy can be a very effective pathway to supporting individuals with neurological differences such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia and others. In addition to the more apparent challenges associated with these conditions, there are often invisible hurdles to navigate that neurodivergent young people face, including sensory processing issues, executive functioning challenges, and occupational functioning challenges that impact directly on both their overall wellbeing and sense of self.
In drawing together my extensive background in education with my psychotherapeutic experience both as an individual practitioner and as part of a clinical multidisciplinary team, I feel able to bring multiple perspectives to the therapeutic work that helps me and the client better understand much of their life experience.
By delving into these elements of neurodivergent life, psychotherapy can provide a nuanced approach, fostering a deeper understanding of how these factors may influence communication, interaction with others, and overall life experiences over time.