Counselling Psychologist
registered Supervisor
MAAPI
MY APPROACH
How I work isn't just about techniques — it's about creating the conditions where real change becomes possible.
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)
I use IFS as a core framework because it works with the whole person, not just the symptoms. IFS understands the mind as made up of different "parts" — some that protect us, some that carry old wounds, and a core Self that is calm, curious, and capable of healing. Rather than trying to eliminate or silence difficult thoughts and emotions, we get curious about them. What are they protecting? What do they need? When parts feel seen and understood rather than pushed away, things shift — often in ways that talking about problems alone never quite manages.
EMDR (EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITISATION AND REPROCESSING)
For experiences that feel stuck — memories, patterns of response, or emotions that seem disproportionate to the present moment — EMDR can be transformative. It works with the brain's own processing system to help experiences that haven't been fully digested finally move through. This isn't about re-traumatising or endlessly re-telling a story. It's about helping the nervous system complete what it couldn't at the time.
COMPASSION-FOCUSED THERAPY
Many of the people I work with are extraordinarily hard on themselves. They hold themselves to standards they'd never apply to others, and they've often been doing it so long it feels like just "who they are." Compassion-focused approaches help build a different relationship with the inner critic — not by dismissing it, but by understanding what it's trying to do, and offering something more effective in its place.
THE BRAIN-BODY CONNECTION
We can learn the neuroscience but insight alone often isn't enough. If the body is still holding old stress responses — bracing, shutting down, going through the motions — then understanding the pattern cognitively won't fully shift it. I work in ways that incorporate the body's experience: Noticing where things are held, what happens in the nervous system, and working with that directly alongside the cognitive and emotional work.