Relationship Therapy
I employ a multifaceted approach to address the unique challenges and dynamics of relationships. The foundation of this therapy is the evolution of the relationship through stages—from dependency to separation and individuation. This model emphasises the importance of resolving childhood conflicts to achieve mature, differentiated selves, crucial for the health of the relationship.
The therapeutic process is tailored to the needs of each couple and focuses on enhancing communication, fostering understanding, and building trust. We explore how unresolved issues from each partner's past can influence current interactions and relationship patterns. By bringing these unconscious influences to light, couples can develop greater empathy for each other and a deeper understanding of their mutual needs.
Our sessions are designed to help partners identify and articulate their feelings, needs, and expectations. We use various techniques such as role-playing, active listening exercises, and conflict-resolution strategies to help couples develop healthier ways of relating to each other. These tools are vital for breaking old patterns and establishing new, more constructive behaviours.
Moreover, we address specific issues such as intimacy, co-dependency, trust, and respect—all crucial elements that contribute to the emotional depth and resilience of a relationship. Our goal is to help couples navigate through crises and empower them to build a robust foundation for a long-term, fulfilling partnership.
Relationship therapy is a collaborative and dynamic process. It is designed to facilitate not just the resolution of conflicts but also to celebrate and enhance the strengths of the relationship. By creating a safe, non-judgmental space, couples can explore and grow together, finding ways to reconnect and rekindle the passion and love that brought them together. Whether addressing day-to-day challenges or more profound relational issues, our therapy sessions are committed to promoting respect, affection, and mutual growth.
Co-Dependency
My approach to Co-Dependency is deeply informed by Pia Mellody's pioneering work, which highlights the profound impact of early childhood trauma and dysfunctional family dynamics on adult relationships. Co-dependency often manifests as a pattern of behaviour where one person puts another's needs before their own to the detriment of their health or well-being. It is frequently rooted in past experiences that affect one's ability to have healthy, reciprocal relationships.
In therapy, we explore the five core symptoms of co-dependency as identified by Mellody:
Difficulty in experiencing appropriate levels of self-esteem: Individuals may feel either inferior or superior to others, and rarely their equal.
Difficulty in setting functional boundaries: This can manifest as trouble saying "no," or at the other extreme, a rigid boundary that keeps others at a distance.
Difficulty in owning one's own reality: Co-dependent individuals often struggle to identify and accept their own feelings, thoughts, and behaviours as valid and important.
Difficulty in acknowledging and meeting one's own needs and wants: There may be a tendency to suppress these needs or believe that others should somehow intuit and fulfil them without direct communication.
Difficulty in experiencing and expressing reality moderately and consistently: This includes managing feelings which may spill out chaotically or be completely withheld.
Our therapeutic process addresses these symptoms by encouraging self-awareness and self-reflection. Through individual and sometimes group therapy sessions, clients learn to understand the origins of their co-dependent behaviors and how these patterns are affecting their current relationships. Therapy focuses on healing these wounds by developing new, healthier ways to relate to oneself and others.
Treatment strategies include:
Educational Components: Teaching about what co-dependency is and how it manifests in relationships.
Skill Building: Helping individuals develop skills such as assertiveness, boundary setting, emotional regulation, and interpersonal communication.
Exploration of Past Traumas: Unpacking how past experiences influence present behavior and relationships.
Development of Self-Esteem: Through various therapeutic exercises and consistent positive feedback, clients work on building a healthier self-image.
Relational Practice: In session, we may role-play various situations or use other experiential techniques to practice newly developing skills in a safe environment.
The goal of addressing co-dependency is not just to alleviate the immediate symptoms but to foster a long-term transformation that allows individuals to engage in relationships that are nurturing, balanced, and fulfilling. By breaking free from patterns of co-dependency, clients can achieve a greater sense of personal autonomy and emotional well-being, enhancing both their intimate relationships and their broader social interactions.
Somatic Trauma Therapy
Somatic Trauma Therapy focuses on the connection between our body and the mind in the healing process. This approach is based on the understanding our trauma can manifest physically, stored in the body's tissues—and can impact our physical health and emotional wellbeing.
Through Somatic Trauma Therapy, we explore body awareness and sensations to help release the stored effects of trauma. Techniques such as guided mindfulness, controlled breathing, and gentle physical movements are used to help clients reconnect with their bodies. This reconnection is crucial for clients to learn to interpret and manage bodily signals without becoming overwhelmed, which is often a challenge for those who have experienced trauma.
This therapy not only assists in alleviating physical symptoms associated with trauma, such as tension or chronic pain but also promotes a greater sense of presence and engagement in life. By integrating somatic practices into the therapeutic work, a more comprehensive recovery can be achieved, addressing both the emotional and physical symptoms of traumatic experiences.
The goal of Somatic Trauma Therapy is to restore a sense of safety and autonomy over one's body, empowering individuals to move forward from their trauma with increased resilience and a renewed capacity for joy. This method is particularly effective for those who may have found traditional talk therapies limited, offering a profound pathway to healing that honours the interconnectedness of body and mind.