I am a Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist working with couples and families across the life-cycle.
The Systemic approach focuses on patterns, relationships and interactions within families or wider systems.
If you haven’t heard of this way of working before then I can recommend this piece in the Guardian by the author Tim Parks which provides a useful sketch of the systemic approach.
Initial Assessments
I start my work, regardless of whether I am working with an individual, couple or family, with an initial assessment that usually lasts for ninety minutes. Towards the end of this first session, with the client(s), we decide on the number of sessions, their frequency and who will attend.
Process of the Work
I work quite flexibly, sometimes seeing individuals, children, parents or couples on their own, and, at other times, as part of the whole family.
Family Systemic Psychotherapy is not a long drawn out treatment and will rarely carry on for over a year, although I do sometimes see families at different stages of their life cycle. For example, I might see a family with very young children who are concerned about how to parent their youngest child and then, see the same family later down the road, when they are concerned, for example, about secondary school transfer for their first born.
I arrange regular reviews so that clients can discuss how the work is going.
What kinds of problems do I work with?
I work with children and adolescents who are experiencing sleep difficulties, eating problems, behavioural problems, school related difficulties as well as those affected by bereavement, separation, divorce and being part of a new step-family.
My special interest is in intercultural couples, mixed race families, migrant couples and families.
I always refer clients on for specialist help (usually, but not always, within the Child and Family Practice) if I can’t help them.
I am registered with the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists and follow the Association of Family Therapy's ethical guidelines.
Fees
My fees are charged on a sliding scale and are dependent on the location of the consulting room and the client's ability to pay.
