Reaching Contact Counselling
I entered the counselling profession in 2015, and studied at the Minster Centre in North West London. I practice what is known as integrative therapy, which means I am guided by a variety of counselling approaches. As all people are unique, I believe that integrative therapy can adapt to the needs of the individual rather than pigeonholing them into a single, formatted way of being. After all, we each have different cultural and societal lives that shape how we experience ourselves and the world around us. I am also relationally orientated, and view counselling as a shared venture that is grounded in consent, collaboration, and creativity. To give an idea of what counselling sessions with me may involve, a handful of therapeutic perspectives I find particularly inspiring can be found below.
Embodiment
Attachment
The Judge
Life moves at a rapid pace, and we can very easily lose contact with our bodies. When we allow ourselves to slow down, breath deep, and turn our attention inwards, we may begin to notice all sorts of interesting information about ourselves. Every ache, twitch, or sensation often holds some kind of significance - which is at times literally itching to be brought into awareness.
Young humans are strongly influenced by their elders, and when we take time to reflect on our childhoods we might discover behavioural patterns that formed during our early years. What's more, is that when we begin to connect these relational dots, we can ask if how we behave is an accurate representation of what we want for ourselves. It could be that we have been thinking, feeling, or acting in accordance with what others expect of us.
We can all become a little self-critical at times. In moderation, this is no bad thing, and can even help strengthen our moral compass. However, we may be struggling to mediate our internal judge if we are continually beating ourselves up about things we have said or done 'wrong'. Whilst facing the judge can mean sitting in difficult emotions such as guilt and shame, we take a big step towards self-love when we do so.
Intersectionality
Each of us can identify with various groups or cultures, which is an incredibly beautiful aspect of life. However, there might be times when we find ourselves struggling to align the values that some of these positions hold; for example, our religious beliefs may not affirm our sexual identity. Being pulled in multiple directions can mean we lose a sense of who we are as individuals, and reflecting on such experiences can help us recognise ourselves and celebrate our uniqueness.
Creative Expression
'A picture paints a thousand words' as the saying goes, and I believe that expressing our creative side helps us tap into experiences we may not be able communicate through discussion. If being creative is your thing, I welcome you to bring paintings, pictures, poems, lyrics, or any other piece you may wish to explore into therapy. I do, however, understand that this may not be for everyone, so I also invite the exploration of artwork made by others that holds special meaning.
Before I started Reaching Contact, I provided my services to the NHS and charity sector. In these settings, I was incredibly blessed to go on counselling journeys with a very diverse client group. This is a tradition I would like to continue, and I want to welcome people from all walks of life. I stay committed to considering how sameness and difference may be influencing the counselling relationship, and I approach all societal issues with openness and curiosity. I genuinely believe that therapy presents the perfect opportunity to reflect on our experiences within society and question how the structural 'norms' and stereotypes we encounter shape our perception of the world.
