I like to work primarily with practical approaches, including cognitive-behavioural and other methods. This work tends to be at the shorter-term end of the spectrum, though I can also work longer term when necessary. My average number of meetings with clients is around 10-12 sessions, though some clients come fewer and some more times. Therapy typically revolves round developing awareness of how one reacts to various situations and then trying to work out alternative strategies – for example, learning how to think differently about certain situations. This can involve understanding how past conflicts can be replayed in present situations. A new healing element that has emerged in recent years has come in the form of mindfulness. This may be thought of as a simple form of meditation and has been shown to promote psychological benefits for those suffering with life’s stressful problems. I have run mindfulness groups and am able to help clients to use it via individual sessions.
I work primarily with adults but have worked with children in the past and may do so by special arrangement. Appointment patterns may vary for different clients but are usually either weekly or fortnightly. Sometimes it is helpful to meet more than one a week and equally as therapy progresses it is usually possible to extend time breaks between sessions. All in all, clients may expect 10-12 or so sessions to be conducted over 5-6 months. I work from my home, which is just a mile from Bristol city centre. Buses and trains serve the area and parking when is available.
My appointment times are organised on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings – though I can sometimes arrange sessions at other times. It is helpful to me if clients are ready to name times and days when they are available when they first approach me.