Skepticism and apprehension when seeking professional help on private issues are healthy responses given the enormity of the task, the courage it requires, and the practical considerations that it entails. In my view theories and clinical experience are important but the fact remains that in essence therapeutic work can only be successful if the relationship between the two of us is one of trust, care, openness, and honesty. Creating a safe and confidential space is therefore paramount. This is not simply a matter of theory - it is about who we are and how we relate to one another.

My way of working focuses on understanding distress and finding ways to alleviate it. This is because I firmly believe that distress - no matter how severe - is trying to 'voice' something meaningful, which deserves attention and respect. I understand many symptoms as forms of adaptation: ways of responding to difficult and overwhelming experiences that may once have helped us cope, but now constrain how we live and relate. The emphasis is therefore on first understanding their function and then exploring possibilities for greater choice in how we respond.