Why Counselling?
At various points in our lives, we all experience feelings, thoughts and events that we find challenging. You may be feeling anxious or depressed, finding it difficult to come to terms with something that has happened in the past, or worried about what the future will bring.
Perhaps you feel stuck in a difficult situation, or caught between what seem like impossible choices. You may be seeking an opportunity to think about who you are, what is important to you, and the kind of life you want to lead.
How can I help?
I can provide you with the space to reflect on your feelings and experiences, helping to expand your self-awareness and gain clearer insight into your current situation, and how you want to respond to it. I will support you to explore different perspectives on what is impacting you, making meaning of your feelings, experiences and relationships.
Research has shown that the relationship is the most important part of the therapy, and I aim to bring warmth, support and curiosity to our work together as we explore whatever feels important to you. The safety of the counselling relationship can help you to explore things that might normally feel difficult, and we will work together to identify what feels important to you and how you would like things to be. Over time my hope is that you will gain a clearer sense of what you would like your life to look like, to develop a deeper sense of understanding and trust in yourself, and feel more confident in moving towards the life you want for yourself.
How might we work together?
I believe that each person is unique, and therefore how we choose to work together in therapy will be based on what is most useful to you. I use a range of ‘lenses’ through which we can explore what might be happening for you, to help us make meaning of your thoughts, feelings and experiences and to consider what your future could look like. This could involve:
- Thinking about how your past might be impacting you in the present, and how you want to respond to that
- Considering how the culture, belief systems and social context you are in has influenced how are experiencing things now
- Having space to pause and reflect on your feelings in the safety of the therapeutic relationship
- Using specific tools and developing skills to meet goals that you have for yourself
In our first meeting we can explore what you would like from therapy and how we might best work together, and this can continue to evolve over time.
Sessions will normally take place once a week, and will last for 50 minutes.
Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity Focused Work
My practice is GSRD (Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) informed, which means that I have knowledge and experience of working with a wide range of issues related to gender identity, sexuality, and different relationship styles like polyamory and relationship anarchy. I have extensive training and experience in supporting those who identify as LGBTQ+, as well as identifying within the community myself. I specialise in online LGBT therapy and polyamory therapy. I am kink aware and a sex-worker friendly therapist. These aspects of your identity will only be the focus of our work if you want them to be, and I take an accepting and affirmative approach to these areas.
Neurodivergence
I have undertaken additional training around supporting people who are ADHD and/or autistic, and those who identify as HSP. I take a neuroaffirming approach to working with neurodivergence; this means that our therapy relationship can be one in which we drop neurotypical expectations of how you ‘should’ be in therapy, and find ways of connecting and being together than work best for you.
Intersectionality, Difference and Diversity
In our counselling work we may look together at how aspects of your identity such as your age, gender, class, race, sexual orientation, religion and other characteristics have had an impact on who you are and your life experiences, where this feels relevant. I acknowledge the wider issues of power and oppression that may particularly impact marginalised groups, as well as celebrating the unique joys, meaning and resilience that can come from living with an identity that has been perceived or treated as ‘other’.
I believe that it is important to make space for all aspects of yourself in the therapy room, and explore how the wider context we live in impacts both your life and our relationship as counsellor and client.
Psychedelic Integration Therapy
Psychedelic therapy is a growing field, with contemporary research contributing to an increasing body of evidence that use of psychedelics in a therapeutic setting can help with a range of mental health issues. An increasing number of people are seeking such experiences at clinics or in ceremonial settings around the world, have participated in research trials, or have had psychedelic experiences in other settings.
I do not offer psychedelic therapy in this way, however I welcome those who may wish to explore psychedelic experiences that they have had, using therapy sessions to make meaning of and integrate these experiences.
Natalie Wood Counselling 