Which therapy (and therapist) is best for you?

Contemplating starting therapy can be an overwhelming prospect. The reason you’re likely thinking about it is because you’re struggling with some areas in your life. You may be apprehensive disclosing your inner most thoughts and feelings to someone you’ve never met before. If you search for a counsellor right now, you’ll see that there is an abundance out there, encompassing a wide range of therapeutic approaches. As if what you were struggling with wasn’t overwhelming enough!

These are all understandable fears. It is important to recognise that whomever you choose to see,you have autonomy. Many therapists offer an initial chat free of charge, to listen and see if they feel they could be ‘a good fit’ with you. This initial chat is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you have about their approach, their experience, and to check that they are registered with a professional body, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I am an Integrative-Relational therapist and simply put, this means that rather than subscribing to one school of thought, I draw upon various approaches that best serve the individual client.Relational therapyacknowledges that we are relational beings; our well-being is greatly influenced by the quality of our connections with others however much of our suffering comes from our experience of these connections too, and beyond this, our relationships.

Whilst I have valued relational therapy personally and professionally, this is by no means the only route. There is an array of different approaches out there: Humanistic therapy, is an umbrella term that covers various types of therapy, including: Person-Centered therapy, Gestalt therapy and Transactional analysis. This type of therapy encompasses free will and self-actualisation. Psychoanalysis, a type of therapy based on the work of Sigmund Freud, is less focused on the person as a whole and believes that psychological issues are rooted in the unconsciou