The Wondering Mind blog

Integrative Relational Psychotherapy

This is quite a mouthful. What does it mean?

Relational: we are social beings, who need healthy relationships to support mental health and wellbeing through childhood into adulthood. I believe that much of the harm done to us and life challenges we face occur because of events in key relationships throughout our lives. In relational counselling the damage done to us in difficult relationships can be addressed and processed through a healthy relationship with a counsellor.

Integrative: I do not subscribe to one single mode of work or one school of psychotherapy but instead utilise elements of many modes of working to build a therapy which is right for you. The modalities I draw from include Transactional analysis, body therapy, Gestalt psychotherapy and attachment theory. I have a balanced model of work which attends to both the challenging thoughts and emotions held within our bodies.

Specialist Experience

Neurodiversity and ADHD: We are living in an increasingly neurodiverse society. Research has shown that more people are being diagnosed with conditions such as ADHD in adulthood. The pressure of dealing with the impact of these conditions and the growing awareness of the effect they have had on life choices and experiences, can cause distress and increase the pressures of an already demanding life. I have experience working with those living with ADD or ADHD; helping them to process a challenging world which is not set up for them. I have also supported clients to build a language to describe their AD(H)D and their needs relating to it. Learning to state your needs in relations to family, friends and employees is a powerful step to fully inhabiting a life with ADHD. Many have also processed with me, the trauma of missed or late diagnosis which has led to unnecessary struggles and pain.

Bereavement and Life Limiting Illness: I have several years’ experience working at Treetops Hospice, Derbyshire working with clients who have life limiting illnesses or have been bereaved due to serious illness. Grief is a natural health process which helps us to recover from loss and does not necessary require therapy. In some circumstances grief can be traumatic, complex and isolating and in these cases working with a bereavement counsellor can be a powerful experience to process your journey through grief and integrate a lasting connection to those who have been lost. My experience is that those who fully process their grief, grow substantially as human beings.