People come to therapy from different starting points. Some are looking for help with anxiety, stress, low mood, or a difficult period in life. Others are struggling with recurring patterns in relationships, low self-worth, or the lasting effects of trauma. My approach is designed to meet people at these different points while offering one coherent way of working.

At the foundation of my practice is Gestalt therapy (from the German word “Gestalt,” meaning “whole” or “complete form”). It is a holistic approach that focuses on your experience as a whole—bringing together thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. Therapy can help bring these different levels into clearer awareness, so that difficulties begin to make more sense and new choices become possible.

The central ideas in this approach are the "Cycle of Experience" and "Here and Now". The "Cycle of Experience" describes how we naturally move from sensing a need, to becoming aware of it, taking action, making contact with others or the environment, and then reflecting on and integrating the experience. This ongoing cycle supports growth, satisfaction of needs, and a sense of being fully alive and engaged with the world. At times, people can become “stuck” at different points in this cycle—for example, not fully recognising their needs or holding back from action. I help to identify where these interruptions happen and what may be getting in the way. This is often done through an experimental and here-and-now approach: rather than only talking about situations, we may explore them in the present through experimental techniques. This allows you to bring unconscious conflicts into present awareness, opening up new possibilities for choice and movement in complicated situations. This makes therapy useful both for immediate difficulties and for deeper, longer-term change.

Gestalt Therapy is also a relational approach and person-centred. The way you relate to the therapist often reflects how you relate to others, and exploring this together can help gently shift it. I may share my feelings, feedback, or personal experiences when it supports your process. I aim to offer a respectful and collaborative space in which you are not judged, instructed, or forced into a fixed model. I see therapy as something we build together. My role is not to tell you how to live, but to help you understand yourself more clearly, develop greater trust in your own experience, and find ways of responding that feel more grounded and sustainable.

Alongside this foundation, I draw on psychodynamic and attachment-informed understanding. Attachment theory explores how our early relationships—especially with caregivers—shape the way we connect with others throughout life and influence how we experience closeness, trust and emotional safety. Looking at these patterns can help explain why certain difficulties repeat and why change sometimes feels harder than it “should.” Through a consistent, attuned, and supportive connection, therapy can offer a new experience—helping to build a greater sense of security, emotional regulation, and flexibility in how you relate to yourself and others.

In recent years, trauma-focused work has become an important part of my practice. My main trauma model is EMDR therapy, which I complement with various somatic and CBT techniques.

EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based and structured approach. It is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NICE guidelines as an effective trauma treatment. EMDR helps the brain process experiences that have become “stuck” or overwhelming. It is widely known for its effectiveness in treating PTSD and other responses to what is often called “Big T” trauma—events that are clearly life-threatening or extremely distressing, such as accidents, assaults, or natural disasters. People experiencing PTSD may have symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or strong physical reactions when reminded of the trauma. EMDR helps reduce the emotional intensity of these memories, allowing them to be integrated in a way that feels safer and less disruptive in daily life.

EMDR is also highly effective for “small t” or developmental and attachment-related wounds—chronic stress, abuse and neglect, or relational difficulties that occurred in childhood. These experiences may not seem like dramatic traumas at the time, but they shape how we relate to ourselves and others, often contributing to mental health difficulties later in life. These can include generalised anxiety, depression, addictions, personality disorders and persistent relational or self-esteem issues. Many mental health challenges are linked to chronic childhood stress and trauma, which can affect the nervous system, emotional regulation, and our sense of safety. EMDR works by gently activating these memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping, supporting the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate them. This process allows both Big T and small t traumas to be reprocessed safely, reducing their impact on the present and helping people develop greater resilience, emotional balance, and healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.

(Watch this video about EMDR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkfln-ZtWeY)

For some people, therapy begins with the wish to feel better quickly and to find more stability. For others, it becomes a longer process of understanding and change. Depending on your needs, the work may remain relatively focused and short term, or develop into longer-term psychotherapy. Both can be meaningful. Sometimes the first task is relief and stabilisation; at other times, deeper work becomes possible and helpful. Where helpful, I may also integrate EMDR into the work. The process is meant to be responsive rather than rigid.

What matters most to me is that therapy feels thoughtful, collaborative, and safe enough for honest work. I welcome questions, reflections, and uncertainty about the process. It is important to me that you understand how we are working and feel able to speak openly if something does not feel right or clear.

I see the broader aim of therapy not only as symptom reduction, though that may be an important part of it, but as a deeper understanding of yourself, greater emotional stability, and a stronger ability to rely on yourself in the face of life’s challenges.