My Approach
Collaboration
Regardless of which method of psychological treatment used, my approach is collaborative. Collaborative psychotherapy means that we work together to help you reach your goals, and psychotherapy is done with you (not to you). As a clinical psychologist, I am an expert in my field. As a person, you are an expert too: In what it is like to be you and your subjective experience of yourself and the world around you. Collaborating as a team of experts, we can work together for your benefit.
Practice makes progress
In session with me, you will be introduced to evidence-based concepts, strategies and tools that you will be expected to reflect on and/or use between sessions. With anything in life, what we practice we get good at. By practicing strategies outside of sessions, you will more quickly generate the change you want to see in your life.
Often people come to see a psychologist because the coping strategies they have practiced have not been working for them - in fact, the way they have coped may have made matters worse. Once you have new, workable tools, I encourage you to invest time in practicing them between sessions to get the most out of the therapy.
What to expect in your first (individual) session
Before the session, I will send you some questionnaires for you to complete and return before we meet. When you come to your first session, we will sit comfortably and talk.
I will ask a lot of questions: About your current concerns and difficulties that are troubling you, and how long it has been going on. Then I will want to understand something of your background: Any medical and developmental issues, culture, family and relationship history, study, work and other environmental influences that are or have been important to you. This information will help me understand you and how best to move forward. Please note that the first session may run a bit longer than a standard session, which is 50 minutes.
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Professional collaboration
If you have been referred for psychotherapy by your General Practitioner or Psychiatrist, I will share necessary information regarding treatment method, progress and outcomes with your referrer. Sometimes, I may also suggest referral to other health professionals.