THERAPY APPROACHES

 Schema therapy is a type of counselling that helps people understand and change long-standing patterns in how they think, feel, and behave especially ones that started in childhood and continue to cause problems in adult life. These patterns, called “schemas,” might lead someone to feel unworthy, unloved, or fearful of being rejected or abandoned. Schema therapy helps people recognise these patterns, understand where they came from, and learn healthier ways to cope and relate to others. It often includes powerful techniques like imagery and chair work to help process emotions and past experiences. A strong, supportive relationship with the therapist is central to the process, offering a safe space to explore deep emotional needs and begin healing. 

EMDR is a type of therapy designed to help people heal from distressing or traumatic experiences. When something overwhelming happens, the brain sometimes doesn’t fully process the memory, and it can get “stuck,” causing ongoing emotional pain, flashbacks, or anxiety. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories in a way that feels less upsetting. During a session, the therapist guides the person to briefly focus on a traumatic memory while using eye movements or other forms of gentle, rhythmic stimulation (like tapping). This helps the brain reprocess the memory properly, reducing its emotional charge and allowing the person to feel more at peace with what happened. EMDR is often used for trauma, but it can also help with anxiety, grief, phobias, and more. 

I use several mind–body approaches within therapy to support emotional wellbeing and nervous system regulation. Mind–body approaches recognise the close connection between the body, brain, and emotional experiences, and work by supporting the body to feel safer and more regulated so that difficult thoughts, memories, and feelings can be processed with greater ease. These approaches may include EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping, somatic and body-based awareness strategies, sensorimotor approaches, polyvagal-informed strategies, grounding and stabilisation techniques, breath-based practices, sensory-informed regulation strategies, and gentle movement-based practices. Mind–body approaches are used alongside talk-based therapy and are offered collaboratively.

 I provide parenting support and dyadic therapy to strengthen and support parent–infant and parent–child relationships. This includes the use of attachment-informed approaches such as Circle of Security, Theraplay®, AutPlay®, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Child and Adolescent Schema Therapy, and other relational and attachment-focused frameworks.

Therapy focuses on supporting parents to better understand their child’s emotional needs, communication, and attachment behaviours, while also increasing awareness of their own responses, histories, and nervous system regulation. Through reflection, guided discussion, and shared parent–child experiences, parents are supported to provide both a secure base for exploration and a safe haven during times of distress.

 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach that helps people understand how thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and bodily responses interact, and how patterns in these areas can contribute to distress or difficulties in daily life. In my work, I integrate a range of CBT approaches, including Trauma-Focused CBT, CBT for Eating Disorders, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

This integrative approach supports people to develop practical skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and coping with overwhelming thoughts and feelings. People also learn to notice unhelpful thinking patterns, respond to inner experiences in more supportive ways, and take actions that align with their values, even in challenging circumstances.

 Expressive Therapies  use creative and experiential activities, such as art, play, movement, music, storytelling, creative writing, drama, symbolic work, and sand tray therapy, to support self-expression, emotional regulation, and healing. These activities help people engage in therapy at their own pace, access deeper levels of their thoughts and feelings, explore experiences, and provide opportunities for spontaneity and play.

This approach provides  creative ways to process emotions without relying solely on words. People of all ages can benefit from experiential engagement, which promotes insight, resilience, and meaningful connection with oneself and others.