How I work
Flexible and collaborative
I offer online counselling for issues including stress, anxiety, depression and managing life changes.
I work in a flexible and collaborative way, taking my lead from you and what it is that you need out of therapy. I believe that therapy is all about the relationship between client and therapist rather than something that is “done” to the client.
Tailored to your needs
Every therapeutic relationship is unique and I tailor each session according to your preferences. I approach sessions with an open mind and the flexibility and versatility that are required to meet the needs that you bring to therapy. I offer a compassionate and non-judgemental space to explore whatever challenges you are experiencing.
Sessions last 50 minutes and are conducted online using a video platform, usually Zoom.
How the mind works
I am also very interested in neuropsychology, or the relationship between brain function and the way we think, behave and feel. You may find that I refer to neuroscientific research when looking at how and why we feel or behave a certain way. While I do not believe that examining brain function alone can address all of our psychological distress and needs, I find this biological understanding can be especially useful when looking at anxiety, depression, addiction and trauma.
Using this varied approach, we might tackle a challenge by identifying your values and what gives your life meaning. Or we may examine the way that chronic stress, poor sleep and lifestyle can affect our brain functioning and what we can do about that. Very often we will discuss how behavioural changes might help you get what it is you need out of therapy.
What will our first session look like?
Our first session will often involve exploring what has brought you to therapy, any previous experience you have of counselling as well as your background and current situation. We will also discuss what it is that you hope to achieve from therapy. It may only be in the second or third session that you feel like the real work has begun. For more answers on what to expect out of therapy, and how it all works, please refer to the FAQ section.
Whatever your goals
Some people will bring very specific goals to therapy. Others just want to talk. If your goal from therapy is mainly to offload issues that are overwhelming you or if you like to have a regular check-in with an empathic and non-judgemental listener, then that is fine.
Perhaps the most important part of getting what you need out of therapy lies in finding the right therapist. And that means the right therapist for you. Not every therapist will be the right fit for every client. It’s important that you find someone you feel safe and comfortable talking to.
I work with people who find themselves struggling with life’s challenges, whether that’s anxiety or depression, stress at work or at home, problems in relationships, or just feeling stuck. Whatever obstacles you may be facing, counselling can often help you find your way again.
I am happy to arrange a free 15-minute chat so that you can see how the fit feels before you commit to anything. And if the connection doesn’t feel right, I am happy to suggest some other therapists.
Person-centred
For those familiar with some of the different approaches in therapy, I work from a broadly integrative, person-centred and humanistic framework and find the existential perspective can often be useful to clients. Broadly speaking this focuses on what gives your life meaning.
Some therapists prefer to adopt a single protocol such as cognitive behavioural therapy or a psychodynamic approach. While I may use some aspects of these approaches, I prefer to adapt the way I work depending on each client and their individual needs.
Safe, comfortable and convenient
It is important to stress that my role is not to try to “fix” problems or to tell you what to do but to help you explore, in a safe, secure and confidential environment what is going on in your life. Sometimes that will involve discussing together how you might remove the obstacles that stand between you and where you want to be.
I currently work exclusively online but plan to offer in-person sessions in the Lisbon and Cascais areas from 2025.
“When I have been listened to and when I have been heard, I am able to re-perceive my world in a new way and to go on.”
How many sessions will I need?
People often want to know how many sessions they will need and the short answer is it’s ultimately up to you. Some clients will feel six sessions are enough to gain the clarity they are seeking. Others want open-ended therapy that may go on for years, and treat it as a valuable way to check in with an objective and empathic listener, perhaps once a fortnight or once a month. In the end, it is up to you.
