Our Therapeutic Approach

Our Therapeutic Approach

Effective therapy is not just about techniques — it is about how those techniques are used, when, and within what kind of therapeutic relationship. My approach is grounded in contemporary psychological understanding, clinical experience, and a deep respect for each person’s unique history and nervous system.

This page explains how I work, what guides my clinical decisions, and what you can expect from therapy in my practice.

An Integrative Model of Care

No single therapeutic model fits every person or every concern. For this reason, my work is integrative, drawing from psychotherapy, counselling, and hypnotherapy in a way that is responsive rather than prescriptive.

In practice, integration means:

• Choosing approaches based on your needs, not a fixed protocol
• Adapting therapy as your circumstances change
• Combining insight, emotional processing, and practical support
• Respecting both psychological and physiological dimensions of experience

This allows therapy to be flexible, personalised, and clinically grounded.

Depth and Practical Support

Some people come to therapy wanting tools to cope with immediate distress. Others are seeking deeper understanding and longer-term change. Many need both.

My approach recognises the value of:

• Counselling to support present-focused challenges and stabilisation
• Psychotherapy to explore underlying patterns, emotional roots, and relational themes
• Hypnotherapy to access subconscious processes when appropriate

Therapy may begin with practical support and gradually move into deeper work, or it may remain focused on present concerns. There is no expectation to go deeper than feels safe or helpful for you.

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches

Human experience involves both conscious thought and automatic bodily responses. For this reason, therapy in my practice may work:

• Top-down — through reflection, insight, meaning-making, and cognitive understanding
• Bottom-up — through emotional, somatic, and nervous system-based processes

Psychotherapy and counselling often engage top-down processes, while hypnotherapy and experiential work can support bottom-up change. Used together thoughtfully, these approaches support integration rather than overwhelm.

Trauma-Informed and Safety-Focused

All therapy in my practice is trauma-aware. This does not assume that everyone has experienced trauma, but it does recognise that many psychological difficulties are shaped by overwhelming or unresolved experiences.

A trauma-informed approach means:

• Prioritising emotional and psychological safety
• Working at a pace guided by your capacity
• Emphasising choice, consent, and collaboration
• Avoiding unnecessary re-exposure to distress

These principles apply equally to psychotherapy, counselling, and hypnotherapy.

The Therapeutic Relationship

Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes.

In my work, the therapeutic relationship is:

• Respectful and collaborative
• Non-judgemental and confidential
• Boundaried and professional
• Attuned to your experience

You are not expected to perform, explain everything clearly, or know what you need in advance. Therapy is a space to explore, reflect, and make sense of things together.

Hypnotherapy Within Therapy

When I use hypnotherapy, it is always integrated within an overall therapeutic framework rather than applied in isolation.

This means:

• Hypnosis is voluntary and collaborative
• You remain aware and in control throughout
• Hypnotherapy is used only where clinically appropriate
• Emotional safety and readiness are prioritised

Hypnotherapy is used to support therapeutic work — not to bypass psychological understanding or readiness.

Individualised and Ethical Practice

Therapy is not linear. Progress may involve insight, relief, discomfort, or periods of consolidation. This is normal and discussed openly.

My clinical decisions are guided by:

• Your goals and concerns
• Ongoing assessment
• Professional ethics and scope of practice
• Evidence-informed principles

Where appropriate, referrals or alternative supports are discussed collaboratively.

How This Links to My Services

This therapeutic approach underpins all services offered in my practice, including:

• Psychotherapy
• Counselling
• Hypnotherapy
• Online therapy

You may find it helpful to explore the following pages:

• Psychotherapy, Counselling & Hypnotherapy
• What We Help With
• Hypnotherapy Explained
• What to Expect in Therapy

Next Steps

If you would like to explore whether this approach feels right for you, you’re welcome to arrange an initial appointment or a complimentary introductory session. This provides an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your needs, and decide how you would like to proceed.