Core Process Psychotherapy integrates perspectives and skills from Western psychotherapeutic approaches along with Buddhist understandings of the healing power of non-judgemental awareness and mindful attention. Rather than trying to forcefully change things, Core Process Psychotherapy emphasises how healing and transformation can arise naturally through bringing kindness and compassion to meet difficult experiences. As these healing qualities are experienced, greater space and freedom around issues can naturally emerge.
I offer both short and longer term psychotherapy according to what is right for you. For however long you wish to come, psychotherapy involves a commitment from both of us which is based on us meeting regularly at the same time each week. Sessions last for 50 to 60 minutes depending on the location. The intention of this framework is to help enable the beneficial outcomes that can be possible from psychotherapy.
Each week we would explore whatever feels most important in relation to the issues you would like to work on. I intend to listen and respond to you with acceptance, understanding and authenticity. I would ask questions and offer my reflections to help you unravel issues, so that you may experience greater insight into the different factors involved in the problems you experience. I would invite you to reflect holistically on all aspects of the issues you experience by paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and physical experience. When appropriate we could work with drawing, imagination or imagery as alternative means of expression and insight.
The body holds memories of stressful situations and so issues may show up through physical pain or tension. Our work could therefore include becoming more aware of the mind-body connection and how physical constrictions may be linked to particular thought patterns, unexpressed emotions or unresolved issues from the past. There can be much learning and growth from listening to the body and following its natural impulse towards healing.
We may also explore how you relate to yourself and others to discover anything that may be hindering your movements forwards and preventing you from being how you would like to be. I would also encourage you to connect with things that give you a sense of well-being, for example this could be nature, animals, music or movement. You may also like to bring dreams that feel relevant for us to explore. In addition, we can spend time developing new skills and capacities that can enable you to respond to situations more effectively.
The best way to see if it feels right to work together is to meet for an introductory session. This gives you the opportunity to get a sense of how I work and to establish whether you would feel comfortable to work with me. It can also help alleviate any fears or concerns you may have about the process. You are certainly under no obligation to go any further than this meeting if you don’t want to.
During the session we would talk about what brings you to therapy, what you hope to achieve and how we might work together. If you are willing to share something about your background then that can be useful for me to know, however it is not necessary to do so and I will respect if there is anything you don’t want to say. You can also ask me any questions you may have. By the end of the meeting you may know whether or not you want to go ahead or you might like to have more time to think about it. If it feels right to proceed then we would agree a regular time to meet each week which would be your space for however long you would like to come.
I offer the introductory meeting at a reduced rate, please see my fee page for more information.
I don’t charge for 4 missed sessions per year provided you give me one week’s notice. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, I am happy to reschedule to another time in the same week if I have availability. I aim to give at least 4 weeks’ notice of any times I’ll be away, which is typically 6-8 weeks per year.
What you share with me is confidential, the only exception to this is if you are at risk of harm to yourself or others where I may be obliged to share information with other helping agencies. I also take my work to professional supervision where identities are not revealed.
