Counselling & Psychotherapy
Therapy can help people in accessing their inner resources to cope with life's challenges. At times, we may forget these resources, or they might seem buried and difficult to reach, leaving us feeling diminished, lost, angry, anxious, or in despair.
Over the years, we can become ‘stuck’, often repeating the same behaviours and coping strategies, experiencing the same feelings and emotions we felt in childhood. This can result in us playing out the same patterns, or scripts, in our adult lives.
What individuals bring to therapy often involves responses to past trauma, abuse, separation, shame, and grief. Therapy can be a process of becoming more resilient to current challenges while gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves and our past.
Counselling can help increase our ability to navigate uncertainty, allowing us to move beyond the limitations we sometimes impose on ourselves. This can lead us to become fuller, more autonomous, and connected versions of ourselves.
The core of psychotherapy is change.
I offer 1:1 therapy for individual adults (18+)
- Face to face sessions at my therapy rooms in Dolgellau
- Online sessions via Zoom
- Outdoor therapeutic sessions in Dolgellau and surrounding areas
- Weekly regular sessions
My therapeutic approaches are rooted in Embodied Relational Therapy and Transactional Analysis (TA).
Fees: 1 Hour Session = £50
I reserve a number of session slots for those on lower incomes at a manageable rate, which we can agree on together. No proof of income is required; please contact me for more information to discuss available options.
I offer a first consultation free of charge. This initial session is important for us to ask questions, for you to share your reasons for seeking therapy, and to determine if I am the right therapist for you. I will answer any questions you may have. For face-to-face sessions, I believe it's important for you to see the therapy rooms and get a feel for the environment where we may work together.
About Me
I’m a South Gwynedd based Embodied Relational Therapist with extensive training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. I offer a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space for you to bring whatever you may need to therapy.
I am interested in how we relate inwards to ourselves and outwards into the world. When working with individuals and their issues, I remain aware of, and interested in, the broader political, cultural, and social systems—such as power imbalances, prejudice, and poverty—that influence our lives.
I believe that therapy can be a powerful tool for change and is beneficial for various issues. I have a special interest in working with individuals who have experienced domestic abuse, violence, and relational trauma.
I am a cisgender male (he/him) and am interested in GSRD (Gender, Sex & Relationship Diversity)
I hold an Enhanced DBS, Professional and Public Liability Insurance, and engage in regular supervision. My ongoing Continued Professional Development includes various trainings to enhance my practice.
I am an Affiliate Counsellor for Traumaform, an Aberystwyth-based non-profit community interest company that offers long-term, affordable trauma-informed therapy.
I am also a member of ERTA (Embodied Relational Therapy Association), ITAA (International Transactional Analysis Association), and the Body Psychotherapy Network (UK).
In addition to my psychotherapy training, I have worked in mental health for several years in a support role for individuals with complex mental disorders. My professional background also includes over 15 years as a portrait and documentary wedding photographer and experience in theatre.
Qualifications & Training:
- Advanced Diploma in Embodied-Relational Therapy
- Four Years UKCP Accredited Training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
- Certificate in Diversity Within Contemporary Relationships
- Diploma in Embodied-Relational Therapy
- Certificate in Existential Group Psychotherapy & Counselling
- Certificate in Working with the Body
- Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology
- Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
- TA 101
Creative & Imaginative Therapy
I approach therapy with curiosity, flexibility, and creativity. Each client is different, which means every therapeutic relationship is distinct. With my background in the arts, I am drawn to an integrative and imaginative style of working, allowing each session to potentially incorporate various methods such as talking therapy, art-based therapeutic approaches, body movement and breath, as well as visualization and meditation.
I also offer a small number of outdoor therapy sessions in surrounding areas. Being in nature adds an environmental element to our sessions and also provides numerous benefits as we explore the forests, beaches, and wild areas of this part of Wales.
I offer possible outdoor sessions available in:
- Dolgellau
- Arthog
- Fairbourne
- Llwyngwri
- Bryncrug
- Tywyn
- Abergynolwyn
- Aberdyfi
- Pennal
- Corris
Embodied-Relational Therapy
Embodied-Relational Therapy (ERT) is a form of psychotherapy developed by the body psychotherapist Nick Totton and Em Edmondson in the 1980s. Since then, it has been further developed and refined. At its core, ERT holds two fundamental truths of human existence: we are embodied beings (we have bodies) and we exist in relation to ‘Other’—including humans, non-humans, and our environment.
As embodied and relational humans, we possess an innate drive to express ourselves freely while simultaneously seeking to protect and defend against traumatic experiences in life. This complex and often contradictory process is frequently stored in our bodies and remains outside of our conscious awareness.
In a safe, shared therapeutic space, ERT aims to explore the wholeness of our embodied selves through a curious examination of our held bodies, words, movements, gestures, breath, and touch. This exploration looks at how we connect and disconnect with others, as well as the emotions and feelings that arise during these interactions.
Transactional Analysis
Transactional Analysis (T.A) Psychotherapy is a versatile therapeutic model that integrates cognitive-behavioural, relational, and psychodynamic approaches with humanistic-existential perspectives. This model provides insights into our life histories and psychological make-up, as well as the various ways we relate to ourselves, others, and our environments.
Issues we face in the present can often stem from decisions or conclusions made in the past, often subconsciously and beyond our awareness, as a means to cope with challenging experiences. These coping strategies may no longer serve us well, and it may be essential to make new decisions that align better with who we are now. This shift can lead to a greater sense of empowerment, autonomy, and freedom.
T.A is suitable for both short-term, goal-focused work and longer-term, more exploratory psychotherapy.
The Therapy Rooms
I have a Private Practice in Dolgellau, where I offer counselling services to clients in a face-to-face setting. Located in the centre of town, my practice is divided into two rooms tailored for various therapeutic needs. The main therapy room provides a safe and confidential environment to sit and talk, as well as an art space where we can engage in art-based therapy side by side at a worktop.
The second room is dedicated to movement and body-based work and currently includes a piano, which allows us to incorporate sound and music into our sessions.
By appointment only.
Accessibility
The therapy rooms are wheelchair accessible, with a small step in the hallway for which I have a ramp if needed.
Toilets
There are toilets available at the practice for client convenience.
Car Parking
For those traveling by car, a public car park is less than a 5-minute walk away at the Marian car park next to the river.
The Therapy Rooms & Outdoor Therapy
