💭 Let's Talk Therapy!
Everything you need to know about different therapy approaches
Counselling 101
Counselling (or therapy) is a space where you are able to talk openly, honestly and confidentially with a qualified therapist about anything you may be struggling with or carrying.
This may include difficult life experiences, overwhelming emotions, anxiety, relationships, low mood, stress, self-esteem, patterns of thinking or simply trying to make sense of yourself and your experiences.
Therapy is not about being judged, told what to do or having to “have it all figured out” before you arrive. Instead, it is a collaborative process where you are supported in exploring your thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a safe space where you feel supported.
By feeling heard, understood and able to explore things openly, therapy can help you gain deeper self-awareness, process difficult experiences, recognise unhelpful patterns and work towards meaningful change at your own pace.
Whilst a therapist is not there to give advice, opinions or magically “fix” things overnight (as much as we wish we could sometimes!), therapy can help you better understand yourself, your experiences and what you may need moving forward.
Person Centred Counselling
Person-Centred Counselling is the core foundation of the way I work and is often considered the more “classic” form of talking therapy that many people picture when they think of counselling.
At the heart of this approach is creating a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space where you feel genuinely heard, understood and able to explore things openly at your own pace.
Person-Centred Counselling is based on the belief that every person is unique, and that nobody understands your experiences, emotions and inner world better than you do. Rather than being told what to think or how to feel, therapy allows space for you to make sense of your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a way that feels authentic to you.
Often in life, difficult experiences, relationships, stress, expectations or past experiences can affect the way we see ourselves and move through the world. Therapy can help you recognise patterns, reconnect with yourself and work towards meaningful change whilst feeling supported along the way.
The therapeutic relationship itself is a hugely important part of Person-Centred Counselling, as feeling emotionally safe, accepted and understood can often create the space needed for growth, healing and self-awareness to naturally take place. This is also why finding the right therapist for you is so important — therapy should feel like a space where you feel comfortable, supported and able to be yourself without fear of judgement.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a form of talking therapy that developed from CBT, but places a much stronger focus on understanding, managing and coping with intense emotions.
The word “dialectical” essentially refers to the idea that two things which may seem opposite can both be true at the same time. For example, accepting yourself as you are whilst also wanting things to change, or recognising that you are doing your best whilst still needing support. DBT encourages space for both of these things to exist together.
DBT has become increasingly popular over recent years, particularly because many of the techniques and skills can be incredibly beneficial within everyday life — even for people who may not necessarily be engaging in full DBT therapy. Originally developed to support individuals experiencing intense emotional distress and difficulties with emotional regulation, many DBT techniques are now widely used to help with overwhelm, anxiety, relationships, impulsive behaviours, stress and managing difficult emotions.
The therapy itself is built around four key areas:
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mindfulness
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distress tolerance
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interpersonal effectiveness
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emotion regulation
Personally, I think many DBT techniques can be helpful for most people in some way, particularly when it comes to learning how to cope with emotions, navigate relationships and manage difficult moments more effectively.
I also hold a further qualification in DBT, allowing me to integrate DBT skills, techniques and approaches into sessions where appropriate for each individual client.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of talking therapy which focuses on the connection between our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and how these can all impact one another.
Sometimes we can become stuck in patterns of thinking or responding that leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, self-critical or emotionally drained without even fully realising it. CBT helps bring awareness to these patterns and introduces practical techniques and coping strategies that can help make things feel more manageable.
CBT is often more present-focused and can be particularly helpful for recognising unhelpful thought patterns, managing anxiety, improving emotional regulation and developing healthier ways of coping within everyday life.
Even small CBT techniques can make a big difference for many people, which is why I often integrate elements of CBT into sessions where appropriate and beneficial for the individual client.
I also hold a further qualification in CBT, allowing me to tailor sessions using CBT approaches and techniques alongside my wider integrative way of working.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy focuses on the idea that our past experiences, relationships and subconscious patterns can often influence the way we think, feel and behave in the present — sometimes without us even fully realising it.
It is a really interesting approach because it often helps people begin connecting dots between their past and present experiences; recognising patterns, emotional responses, coping mechanisms or relationship dynamics that may have developed over time.
Sometimes we can find ourselves reacting in certain ways, struggling with the same patterns or feeling emotions we cannot quite make sense of. Psychodynamic Therapy creates space to gently explore these deeper layers and bring unconscious thoughts, feelings or experiences into conscious awareness.
By understanding where certain patterns may come from, therapy can help people process difficult experiences, develop greater self-awareness and better understand themselves and their emotional world.
Whilst this approach can involve reflecting on past experiences, the aim is not to “live in the past”, but instead to better understand how our experiences may continue to shape us in the present day.