what is integrative therapy?
i am an integrative practitioner which means that i draw on various counselling traditions and integrate them into my practice. for example: psychodynamic counselling, systemic therapy, modern relational theories, and cognitive behavioural interventions. And i am keen that therapy takes into account the many different ways of being human, and thus the different systems that we exist in, namely: personal, political, social, cultural, spiritual). my approach is underpinned by a humanistic framework, and post modern, feminist and queer theories. i have also recently completed further training around working with queer and gender identities in order to continue to update my skillset/knowledge base.
how does it actually work?
in essence, we will work together to begin to figure out where you want to go. here, then, therapy can be seen as more of a collaboration: we both bring our histories to the room, and it is in the intersubjective or third space (the space between) where therapy happens, and the process of unfolding and healing can begin. it can be worth noting a couple of things: you are the expert on your own life; and, therpay is not done to you, i am but the facilitator/guide/reflector.
and sometimes, therapy can be plain and simply a healing space, a safe enough environment to reflect and explore self, and have a professional who is empathic and knows how to hold the space and mirror this back to you.