How I Work

Making sense of your experiences, finding ways forward

You may be seeking help with something specific, such as anxiety, loss or difficulties in a relationship. Or you may feel unsettled, disconnected or stuck without knowing quite why.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy for adults, combining thoughtful exploration with support for the difficulties you face now. Together, we can build a clearer understanding of your experiences, recognise what you need and explore possibilities for change.

You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis, a clear goal or the right words. We can begin with whatever feels important to you.

An active, collaborative relationship

My approach is warm, curious and engaged. I listen carefully, ask questions and share observations that may help you understand yourself differently. At times, I may gently challenge a familiar belief or draw attention to something that seems difficult to acknowledge.

You bring knowledge of your own life; I bring therapeutic understanding and a commitment to exploring it with you. We will discuss what you hope to gain and regularly consider whether our work is helping.

There is room to talk about how you experience me and our sessions, including moments when you feel misunderstood, uncertain or uncomfortable. These conversations can help us understand what you need and strengthen our work together.

Therapy shaped around you

I work integratively, drawing on psychodynamic, Gestalt, person-centred and cognitive behavioural perspectives, alongside compassion-based approaches.

In practice, this means we can approach your difficulties in several connected ways:

Understanding patterns: exploring how earlier experiences and relationships may influence your expectations, responses and sense of yourself.
Noticing what happens now: paying attention to thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations and the ways you respond to other people.
Finding practical ways forward: exploring how you manage distress, communicate needs, set boundaries or respond to difficult situations.

We will decide together what feels relevant and helpful. You don’t need to choose a therapeutic model before we begin.

Space for feelings that are difficult to understand

Some people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed by emotion. Others find it difficult to feel much at all, or can explain their experiences without feeling connected to them.

We can take time to notice and understand your emotional experience. This may include recognising tension, restlessness or the urge to withdraw, as well as exploring sadness, anger, fear or shame.

You won’t be expected to disclose everything at once or push yourself into feelings that seem unmanageable. We can talk about the pace and attend to what helps you feel sufficiently supported to explore.

Working with self-criticism and compassion

You may understand why you struggle and still find yourself responding with frustration or harsh judgement. Perhaps you feel you should be stronger, less affected or better able to cope.

My background in mindfulness and compassion-based work informs how I approach these experiences. We can explore what self-criticism is trying to achieve, how it affects you and what a more supportive response might make possible.

This work can include developing greater awareness, understanding your limits and learning to respond to distress with care. Any reflective or mindfulness practices are discussed together and offered where they suit your needs.

Counselling or psychotherapy?

The terms overlap, and you don’t need to decide which you need.

Our work may focus on a current challenge, such as bereavement, anxiety or a difficult decision. It may also involve exploring longstanding patterns in relationships, emotional life or your sense of identity. These areas often connect.

Some people choose a focused period of therapy; others want longer-term space for exploration. We will discuss your preferences and review them as we go. You can raise questions about the direction, pace or ending of therapy at any point.

a man holds his head while sitting on a sofa

Beginning our work

I offer a free 20-minute online consultation. This gives you an opportunity to share a little about what brings you, ask questions and get a sense of whether you would feel comfortable working with me. There is no obligation to continue.

If you decide to book a first therapy session, we will explore your circumstances and what you hope might change. We will also discuss practical arrangements and confidentiality, including its limits, so you can make an informed decision about continuing.

Therapy sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place weekly. The first therapy session is charged at my standard session fee.

If you would prefer to make contact in writing, email jim@heart-mind-body.co.uk. A short message is enough; you don’t need to share your full story before we speak.

Book a free Initial Consultation

Contact
jim@heart-mind-body.co.uk

FAQs

Frequently asked questions