Therapy can be a place of refuge during times of deep uncertainty; a place to simply be in the vulnerability and tenderness of being human.
“If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
- Clarissa Pinkola Estés
I offer private therapy sessions in Northcote and Warrandyte.
These sessions integrate talk therapy with mindfulness tools, guided meditations, and somatic practices.
What is integrative psychotherapy?
Integrative psychotherapy is a holistic and collaborative approach to healing. It draws from many schools, models and techniques, to curate a treatment plan specific to the individual. This work is built upon a foundation of safety, trust and collaboration. Psychotherapy involves the regulation of the nervous system, deepening an awareness of the body, and building relationship with different parts of ourselves.
What is a body-oriented approach?
My approach to therapy is body-oriented. The body gives us a lot of information about what is going on inside of ourselves. In working on the level of the body, we are working directly with the subconscious mind. Tracking subtle shifts in the nervous system and fully experiencing the layers of our emotions can bring about profound shifts. Although these sessions are body-oriented, they do not involve touch.
Who is psychotherapy for?
Psychotherapy is for everyone. It could be for those who are completely new to therapy. It is for people experiencing physical complaints, mental health issues, or perhaps a combination of both. I welcome clients from all walks of life, including those experiencing depression and anxiety, grief and loss, addictions, relationship problems, anger issues, and existential concerns, as well as those looking to understand themselves more deeply.
How does psychotherapy differ from psychology?
Generally speaking, psychology is considered a behavioural science and is the study of the human mind. Psychology training includes a focus on research into human behaviour, statistics and methodology. Psychology tends to follow a medical model of healthcare and seeing a psychologist may involve talking combined with evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Psychotherapy is based on the same principles and understandings as psychology, however it also incorporates a wide range of other theories and modalities. Psychotherapy training is focussed on the relational aspects of the therapeutic encounter, including the skills and techniques involved in ‘being with’ a client. There are many different schools of psychotherapy - you may be familiar with psychoanalysis, Jungian analysis or Gestalt therapy - which are each founded on distinct ideas about the human mind which underpin the approach and the techniques used.
Contemporary research into trauma and the body, neuropsychology, and the nervous system all points towards the benefits of a body-based approach to therapy.
How many sessions will I need?
Length of therapy can vary greatly depending on the issues and personal history. It’s important to understand that psychotherapy is a usually a long-term commitment. However, my goal is for you to receive enough tools and resources to maintain a level of wellbeing in which therapy is no longer required.
