Meet the Minds

What motivates you to be a therapist?

I’ve always been interested in people, their lives and how they experience the world. Growing up I always wondered what was really going on - communication, relationships, what’s it all about? I felt angry at injustice and unfairness. I was always drawn to people who struggle to fit in and people who find everyday life hard. I wasn’t sure where I fit into the world - I didn’t really like the subjects I learned at school, I wanted to do something else. It took many years to of exploring my identity before I noticed how many people suggested to me that maybe I would be a good counsellor. As well as learning there is a thing called ‘empathy’ and that my main interests and values align with the therapeutic world, I made the decision to go for it. 

How would you describe your approach and core values in therapy?

My priority and aim - every day - is to be true to myself and authentic with others. I’m not afraid of negative feelings or strong emotions. I always felt put off (as a child and still as an adult) by experts, professionals, clever language and long words. I never wanted to be like that.  I believe I have some knowledge from my experience and training that I can share, and we can work together to figure out what you need and what might help you.

What would you want clients to know about the process of growth?

Growth is uncomfortable. I’ve found personally that practising acceptance of the full spectrum of human emotion — the ups and downs, negative and positive — has been most beneficial for me. I haven’t mastered that acceptance either. There is no destination; growth is an ongoing process. We’re all in it together, figuring it out every day.

What can clients expect from an initial session, and how do you build trust over time?

I know it can take a while to get to what you want to talk about, and feelings can be difficult to access even when we try. I’ll run through confidentiality and as I will have read the form you have submitted, I will have some idea of what’s going on for you. We can discuss this if you feel it might be helpful to get going, but the space is yours to discuss whatever is troubling you in the now. 

It takes time to build trust, and I appreciate that can be difficult with someone you don’t know — it’s a unique relationship, different from the conversations we have day to day. I understand this myself, as someone who has had and struggled with therapy and therapists throughout my life! I’m happy to take however long you need to build trust in me as a counsellor.

What role does personality, humour and individuality play in your work?

I believe every individual has a story, and stories long to be heard. I appreciate diversity and try to learn from others, promoting the sense that we’re all human and can learn from each other. I believe laughter is essential. Humour helps us through hard times, helps us bond. Life itself can be particularly humorous. More laughter in my life noticeably improves my wellbeing — and I think that’s true in the room too.