My philosophy

I approach our therapy work together with respect, sensitivity and understanding. We all come to be who we are and deal with circumstances the way we do for a myriad of reasons.

I offer you acceptance and a non-judgmental attitude. Whilst sometimes our ‘old ways’ no longer serve us well, the process of making changes requires a safe, patient and compassionate therapeutic approach.

I see therapy as partnership work with your expertise about your own life and my skills and understanding coming together to find ways for you to feel better in the world and inside yourself.

Somatic psychotherapy

In the last two decades, we have seen significant progress in our understanding of the impact of trauma on the body.  Somatic psychotherapy is a modality of therapy that includes the body in the therapeutic work allowing for a combined approach.

Experiences of childhood trauma impact our internal ‘alarm system’ of our brains and leave our nervous system geared up for danger, even when the present reality is safe.

Early memories are stored as implicit memory (instead of explicit) and tend to be enacted and embodied rather than articulated in spoken language. In other words, when there is unresolved trauma, our bodies remain scared.

By including the body in the therapy, you can learn to calm your physiology down, soothe your nervous system, start experiencing an internal sense of safety, learn to regulate emotions and tolerate feelings without being overwhelmed by them.

Working with the body may include: inviting awareness of the breath or posture, learning to notice and address agitation or numbness, learning to track sensations and how they link to emotions, using different body postures to affect your mood, learning to identify patterns of movements that might keep you stuck, to name a few examples.   This is done gently, mindfully and with you always in control of the process.

At times I may also offer the use of therapeutic touch.  This is always an optional, consulted and consented process.  Your safety is paramount and you can change your mind at any time.

I work gently and respectfully and at a pace that is appropriate for you. I use a combination of work with inner (younger) parts, psycho-education, and body-oriented techniques. Your therapy is unique to you as I adapt my work to your needs and what works best for you.

I continue to update my skills and bringing new ways of working to enrich my practice and what I can offer to my clients.

If this sound like the right approach for you, contact me on: 0404 055 713 for a brief chat.

I look forward to hearing from you.