How I Work

“We need to find the courage to say no to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity”.
– Barbara DeAngelis

I am trained in a number of theoretical approaches and adapt how I work to meet your needs while working holistically. The underlying principle of how I work is strongly influenced by Existential Philosophy. As the quote above says living our lives with authenticity means mankind is challenged to take responsibility for how they will live their life.

There are lots of different kinds of existentialism and existential therapies, it’s not just one thing it’s a whole family or genre of different approaches and perspectives on a whole range of questions – such as meaning, purpose, spirituality, what life is about and so much more.

 

At the Heart of Existentialism is the Relationship.

Research has strongly supported with evidence the idea that healing in any of the psychotherapy processes is fundamentally measured by the strength of the therapeutic the relationship. The focus of the in-between-ness of the relationship is explored and developed as we travel the healing road together.

It is the relationship that helps the painful wounds and trauma of the past heal and become less of the focus. This is an important area in my work, one where I work on a consistent basis with my clients and is at the centre of my work. The outcome is movement towards a meaningful and important relationship that allows for honesty and healing to occur and a life that is worth living, one that you deserve.

 

Why Come Along for Therapy?

In coming along to therapy you are taking the first step in discovering a meaningful life with purpose and possibilities. Today people are looking for happiness in a difficult world. Existentialism begins with the premise that life is full of paradoxes and tension, challenging the basis of who we are and how we want to live our life.  Life can be tough and you will have faced difficulties, experience painful decisions and loss. Finding fulfilment in life can be a journey, full of tension, uncertainty and a desire to belong. Living a meaningful life with purpose and agency is available, one that you deserve. It is the lifelong search of all human beings – to take responsibility for living a life that is meaningful. 

Together we will explore the impact of your life under whatever the circumstances. Choices will have been made knowingly and unknowingly and from this point you can decide if you are ready to take steps towards change in your life.

 

What is Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy?

Existentialism breaks away from putting labels on a person’s life. It begins with the concrete aspects of what it is to be human in a world that has no meaning and yet we are constantly seeking meaning in a meaningless world.

Existential therapy is about who you are, looking at your life holistically not categorising you and putting you in a box or giving you a label. It’s about exploring your life, what is impacting it, and where  you find yourself today in life and all its circumstances. It also encourages you to be creative in finding a way that is personally fulfilling.  

It is a way of engagement that attempts to avoid making assumptions by asking questions and enquiry from your perspective of how you live your life. It’s about helping you to move forward in the direction you choose, drawing on your strengths and understanding your limitations. It’s an approach about facing up to life as it is and making sense of it.

 

What is Existential Time-Limited  Therapy?

The Time-Limited approach allows both the Therapist and the client to agree on a specific number of sessions but always with the end in sight. Using the Existential Time-Limited approach allows clients to commit to the agreed number of sessions, knowing that this temporary relationship will have an ending and that a sense of being contained in an approach that does have an end in sight allows for a sense of commitment to work through the challenges.