The Person-Centred Approach (PCA) is a relational, non-directive therapeutic model that fundamentally supports our innate tendency to grow. The PCA model was pioneered by Carl Rogers, an American humanist psychologist who developed his theories in the 1950's.

Rogers believed that each of us has within us the resources to grow and develop to our full potential and lead a healthy and fulfilling life, but that this process may be hampered, disrupted and distorted by our experiences of relationships and life events, both past and present, and by the social and cultural environment that we live in.

As a result of his extensive research in psychiatric units, he observed that if the therapist can offer certain, optimum conditions for the client, then healthy psychological change and growth can take place, fuelled by the client's inherent life energy and desire to make sense or meaning of their unique lived experiences.

My role is to facilitate these conditions for you - a safe, non-judgemental and empathic therapeutic container within which all of you is welcome and held. This is done through listening carefully and compassionately to your experiences, thoughts and feelings, trusting that you know what is safe for you to share, what may be too painful and that you know which direction to go in and at what pace. My place is both alongside you as well as to gently challenge you, to understand you and for us to work relationally and collaboratively.

Whilst fundamentally PCA in my approach, my practice is also informed by findings in neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology, particularly within the fields of trauma, anger, shame and grief. I am interested in the energies of these difficult emotions that can embed themselves and disrupt and disturb our nervous system, our thinking and behaviours. I work closely and gently with somatic experiencing and the autonomic nervous system to foster deeper self awareness and understanding; a reparative process that supports a reconnecting with self.

Whilst there are many therapeutic modalities, each with different theoretical frameworks and applications, research has shown that for therapy to 'work', that is the relationship between therapist and client that is the most important element. Therapy is a space away from your everyday life and one that is all about you.