13 Years of Providing Psychotherapy (Part 2 of 2) As we reach September 2023, I realise I’m coming up to my thirteenth year of seeing clients. Summarising the numbers wouldn’t capture the experience of doing this work with so many people in so many places. They would also overlook the reality of what it’s like […]
As we reached September 2023, I realised I was coming up to my thirteenth year of seeing clients. Summarising the numbers wouldn’t capture the experience of doing this work with so many people in so many places. They would also overlook the reality of what it’s like to deliver psychotherapeutic support in our societal context, […]
How to respond when someone tells you they’ve experienced sexual abuse… Thank them for telling you Disclosure is not an easy thing to do. Saying ‘thank you’ actively recognises the huge step someone has taken to ask for help, and acknowledges what they’ve been through. Listen with empathy & without critique We’ve all […]
When writing my book it was important to make space for survivors’ experiences of accessing therapy and reporting to the police (in the UK). Early on I decided to include interviews as part of putting the manuscript together, which a colleague helped me with. Sharing Lived Experience There are quotes throughout from people who […]
What is therapy (3/3)… Therapy can bring up some uncertainties. Here are some common questions to help understand what to expect: *Is my therapist a friend? There is a psychological closeness we might experience with a therapist, which often comes from feeling listened to, understood, and supported. This might feel like a friendship, or being […]
What is therapy (2/3)… Therapy can be a confusing experience. Here are some common questions to help you understand what to expect: *How much should I/my therapist be talking? There is no ‘right way’ for you to talk in therapy. Everyone processes information differently, has varying levels of comfort/stress when speaking with others, and communicates […]
What is therapy (1/3)… Therapy can be a confusing experience. From trying to access support, finding the right service/person to suit you, and to actually doing the work, there are many questions that come up. Here are some common ones: *What is therapy? Psychotherapy and counselling are types of talking therapy which can help you […]
Boundaries in psychotherapy… When I’m working with someone I never assume that the way I relate to others, process information, and communicate will be the same for the person on the other side of the room/on my screen. First and foremost, I’m there to support their mental health and this must be done in a […]
Meeting a survivor where they are… Psychotherapists are offered an insight into a survivor’s life at the point they meet, as well as making contact with their past. The impact of barriers to accessing specialist support (waiting times, funding or lack thereof, practical accessibility needs, the impact of blame/shame/guilt, etc.) should form part of the […]
Therapy as a ‘safe space’… As therapists we aim to provide a safe space for people to speak freely, without fear of judgement or shame. I think the physical spaces we offer can help or hinder this, because as humans we’re built to unconsciously scan our environment for threats too. I never refer to what […]