Within the world of counselling there are a multitude of disciplines and theoretical approaches to psychology; however, the 'big three' are humanistic, cognitive, and psychodynamic.

Humanistic (or person-centred) counselling takes the position of assuming that everyone is the expert on themselves and that everyone has the capacity to heal themselves when given the right conditions in which to do so. Cognitive therapy takes the view that sometimes our thinking becomes distorted and this affects both our feelings and behaviours which can cause us a lot of emotional distress. The best known form of cognitive therapy is CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). Lastly, psychodynamic theory takes the view that a lot of emotional distress is caused by things buried in our subconscious, and the goal of this therapy is to bring into our conscious mind what is hidden from us. Psychodynamic theory is often referred to as being a more modern take on Psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud.

When working with clients, I use a 'blend' of all of these approaches to create a unique, collaborative therapy which is suited to the individual. This blending of approaches has multiple names, depending on the therapist's individual style. The way in which I work is known as 'Pluralistic' - with a person-centred style, although others might use the terms 'Integrative,' or 'Eclectic' to describe themselves.

I do not offer art therapy which is in of itself a specific type of therapy; however, I do sometimes incorporate creative or artistic approaches to therapy where I think they may be of benefit. Where this is the case, I will usually discuss this with you first so that you can understand the purpose of what we are doing and the hopeful benefit to you.

Part of our work might focus on challenging negative behaviours and thought patterns; it might focus on your communication styles and relationships with others; we might also explore the core beliefs that you hold about yourselves and others, and how you might have formed these views and challenge them if they're negatively impacting your life. It is worth noting that some individuals may experience "Eureka!" moments within a few weeks, sometimes this might not happen for months or years - and some individuals never experience a finger-snapping moment at all, but change will be occurring for you even if not in an obvious, conscious way. As Carl Rogers, the forefather of the humanistic approach, once stated "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change."