What therapy with me looks like
To me, counselling (often known as psychotherapy) is a space to understand yourself more fully: your emotional life, your relationships, the choices you make, what might be causing distress, and the life you want to build.
I’m interested in how your patterns, relationships and emotional responses came to make sense, what they’re doing for you now, and whether they still fit the life you want to live.
How I work
You aren't expected to arrive with a perfectly formulated problem. Sessions might begin with something immediate that has happened that week, or with a broader pattern you've noticed. Sometimes the work will involve staying with an emotion; sometimes making connections between experiences; sometimes looking at relationships or beliefs; sometimes trying to understand what you actually want.
My background in counselling and psychology means I bring a broad understanding of mental health, relationships and human behaviour to the work. I use that knowledge to help make sense of what you’re experiencing, but without reducing you to a diagnosis or assuming I already know what something means for you.
Good therapy, to me, is a balance between feeling genuinely heard and being helped to see something in a new way.
What's important to me
Genuine investment.
I deeply care about all of my clients, and wish to see them thrive. Nothing fills me with more joy than when a client comes away from our sessions feeling better equipped to face life.
Curiosity without judgement.
All behaviour is understandable when viewed in context. What one may feel is irrational, bad or inexplicable can always be made sense of.
The client remains the expert on their own life.
I can offer perspectives, questions and theory, but you determine what fits.
Not pathologising ordinary human experience.
Mental distress is not the same as illness. Psychiatry can support mental wellbeing, but its language can unhelpfully pathologise large swathes of the very normal, very diverse, human experience.
Evidence matters, but people aren't datasets.
I value research and established theory, while recognising that you are an individual.
Warmth and honesty can coexist.
I'm not aiming to simply affirm everything you say; I like to be gently challenging, once enough trust exists.
Clients lead the way.
I'm reflective, exploratory and relational, but I always follow your lead. It's up to you what you want to explore, and at what pace.
Ethics and transparency
Therapy asks you to be open about things that may be difficult, private or painful, so I think it’s important that you know what you can expect from me in return.
I work with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework, as a guide to my practice. For me, that means taking your autonomy seriously, treating you with respect, working within the limits of my competence, being clear about boundaries, and being willing to reflect on my own work rather than assuming I always have the right answer.
Confidentiality
What you share with me is confidential. There are a small number of exceptions, such as where I believe there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or where disclosure is required by law.
We’ll talk through confidentiality, its limits and the practical boundaries of our work before we begin, so that you know exactly what you are agreeing to and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Getting started
Your first session
If it feels like we could work well together, I offer a free 50-minute introductory session, either online or in person in Russafa. We can explore what has been going on in a little more depth, talk about what you might want from therapy, and make sure that what you’re looking for is within the kind of work I offer.
There’s no obligation to continue afterwards. If we both feel it’s a good fit, we can arrange regular sessions and begin the work from there.
A short introductory call
Reaching out for therapy can feel like a surprisingly big step, especially if you’re not quite sure what you want to talk about yet. You don’t need to have everything worked out before you get in touch.
We’ll start with a short 10-minute phone call. This is simply a chance for us to briefly introduce ourselves, for you to tell me what has brought you to therapy, and for us both to get a sense of whether it makes sense to take the next step. You can reach out here.
Fees
The introductory assessment session is free. Sessions thereafter are €50 each, and can be paid on the day or in batches of four.
Qualifications
MSc Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, UK (accredited by British Psychological Society)
L3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, Astranti Connect, UK
L2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, Astranti Connect, UK
Reach out
The information you enter here will be kept confidential and is never shared without your consent.
Looking for group support instead? Learn more about the Valencia support group.