I am a psychotherapist and academic tutor trained at the University of Edinburgh (MCouns, COSCA accredited). My interest in psychotherapy began when I first sought therapy for myself in 2017. The experience of being in therapy has been a defining point of reference in my life and continues to profoundly shape my own work as a therapist.
Psychotherapy comes into its own when our usual ways of dealing with things are not working sufficiently well. It becomes a consistent, reliable and confidential space in which one can safely bring different aspects of themselves and their difficulties. This can be helpful for understanding a range of psychological issues that have never reached a comfortable resolve, whether mild or acute, recent or long-standing. It is suitable to address specific problems, behaviours, crises, or trauma, as well as allows for a meaningful exploration of the fullest potential of one’s life.
At its core, I experience therapy as a valuable practice, process and relationship. I value the therapeutic relationship as the hallmark of good therapy, which becomes the anchor through which difficult and deeper issues can be reached. This kind of relational, committed, reflective, insight-oriented depth-work offers an opportunity for anyone interested in establishing a secure psychological connect with themselves and those around.
I practice within the Psychodynamic approaches to therapy. This is an evidence-based psychological approach which presents the idea that our unconscious lives (the neglected, buried and wounded parts of our ‘self’, and our early relational experiences)have an enduring impact on our present and powerfully underpin our sense of self. In therapy, this involves making space for the depth, nuance and complexities of our inner worlds— pasts, present, relationships, instincts, defenses, resistances, coping mechanisms, dreams, fantasies, emotions, losses, fears, and the body that carries it all. There is a gentle unfolding of these, explored curiously and empathetically to help reach an understanding of the underlying processes which affect the way we experience ourselves and our external worlds. In this way, therapy may gradually bring about change through a greater degree of self-understanding to enable the individual to find the way forward to living more authentically and to deal better with the realities of life.
Central to my work is the psychosocial framework. This allows us to make space for how the social realities and ecosystems of gender, race, sexuality, class, caste, familial legacies, and ancestral trajectories influence our psychological vulnerabilities. It is a privilege to work with a diverse demographic in my practice, where one’s intergenerational histories, lived experiences, identities and cultures are a part of the therapeutic work.
Regardless of what brings you to therapy, you will find that it helps achieve lasting psychological development so that when the work comes to an end, you continue to benefit from the experience.