Integrative Therapy
We all have the capacity and wisdom to move through the difficult experiences in our lives with the right support
This approach draws on different theories and skills that the counsellor brings together to form an integrated way of working. It is not a 'pick and mix’, pulling together techniques the therapist feels would suit the client but has its own training, theories and skills and the therapist creates a unique blend of influences that fit together and reflect what is meaningful and valuable to them and the individual clients they work with.
Things we find difficult can happen in the past or present, often stemming from relationships or particular events and sometimes we can live with these for a long time before we decide it's time to address them. Sometimes we may not know where things started or what they're about, just that things don't feel right anymore.
As I see it, one of the tasks of counselling is to support people, through using a particular set of skills and experience, to become more aware of what is difficult and why so as to allow them to choose in the present how to move through it.
We may choose to keep our memories, thoughts and feelings as they are, we may see them from a different angle that allows us to choose to change the way we live with them or we may decide they don't serve us now and belong in the past. This is always your choice and I am there offering a professional relationship with appropriate boundaries, experience and training to support your choices.
I offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in combination with Integrative Therapy. It is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy that helps people recover from past trauma and other distressing life experiences that can feel stuck and difficult to move on from.
It does not always involve lengthy discussions about the particular experience or memory but allows the brain to support its own natural healing capacity by processing things in a particular way.
This film by the EMDR Association explains how it can help.
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The specifics will vary depending on how we are working together but generally, in the first session we will answer any questions you may still have and establish:
– Whether counselling is right for you
– What you would like to work on, and why now
– Some history of the development of the issue and how it affects you now
– Some goals for how you would like things to change during counselling and how we will know if we are meeting them
– Whether we are a good fit to work together and how we will work if we are to continue
- Agree fees and payment details
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We can work outdoors, indoors or remotely via video call. I have several regular walking routes that I use for sessions around the west and south of Canterbury in Kent, but we can also be in parks, woods, by the sea, or in a garden. Maybe in a cafe if the weather is bad if that feels comfortable for you. Just state your preference when you contact me or when we first speak.
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Every person and their circumstances are different, so it is impossible to give an answer to this question before we start. Some services will limit sessions to 6 or 8. Sometimes that is enough and sometimes people leave not satisfied with the progress they've made. What I can commit to is that I will work hard to support your progress at a pace you're comfortable with and not extend counselling beyond what is helpful to you, for my own financial gain. We can agree the goals and pace of the work together and will review as we go along. There isn't really an average number, as no-one is average.
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We can still decide to be outdoors if we want to – there isn't much apart from tropical heat, blizzard or monsoon that puts me off. We can also work in my therapy room or switch to a video call if you'd rather not go out at all. We can decide on the day, and this is usually your decision. I am happy to be led by you and whatever you're comfortable with unless the weather is extreme or there are specific reasons I can't work outdoors.
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This depends a bit on what we're doing. The usual length is 50 minutes to an hour. We may decide sessions are more effective longer depending on where we are working. Walking sessions may be helpful a bit longer, but indoors or on zoom, usually an hour.
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My fee for an hour session is £65. If we are walking the first session sometimes takes longer because people walk at different rates and often have questions they think of at the end, and if it is over 1hr 15m I charge £75. If I need to travel for more than 15 minutes I will charge a small amount extra and we can agree this before we start.
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Integrative Therapy can be done with or without Stanley and Peggy. They like to be active though, and if we want to be quiet or still it may be best for them not to be there. Also if the weather is hot or they are poorly or already tired they will need to rest at home. I will always be mindful of their welfare and their participation is always voluntary.
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If we are outdoors you will need appropriate clothing to be outdoors for at least an hour, particularly footwear, a warm coat if it's cold and a waterproof/umbrella if it's raining, or might rain. Suncream and/or hat in the summer. Maybe something to drink to keep hydrated.
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Whilst the weather doesn’t always stop us from working outside, shortening daylight hours do, so this limits sessions from roughly mid-November to the beginning of April to before dusk. Indoor sessions in my therapy room or online are still available at any time.
