Individual Psychotherapy
“You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair”
(Chinese proverb)
In my work, I witnessed how the overwhelm of modern life results in people feeling underwhelmed with the experience of being alive. This manifests in conditions such as depression, anxiety, burnout, and a loss of sense of self. Medication may help some people short term, but it can’t deal with root causes. I have extensively researched ways to address the psychological challenges of our times by weaving nature back into the fabric of our lives. Based on my decades of experience, and extensive research, I offer individual psychotherapy that transforms your relationship with yourself, with others, and with this more-than-human world.
What is Environmental Psychotherapy?
For over a century the field of psychology has emphasised the role of human relations in mental health and well-being. That’s why therapy has traditionally focused on resolving interpersonal relationships from our past and present. But scientific studies show that our relationship with nature has a significant impact on our sense of self also. In other words, we are not just social creatures. We need nature to psychologically thrive. This is often ignored by conventional therapies. Environmental Psychotherapy acknowledges that humans are an interdependent part of a wider ecological system and treats the individual based on this. Like traditional psychotherapy, it is an in-depth psychological process that explores your relationship with self and others, but that also explores how you engage with the whole of life around you. Treatment focuses on cultivating your relationship with nature to address psychological distress, unresolved issues, and unfulfilled desires in your life. Ultimately, the aim of environmental psychotherapy is to transform the way you engage with the world around you on an everyday basis so that you can fully embrace and appreciate your experience of being alive.
It helps you to:
Gain deep insight into your past, present, and future self (conscious and unconscious).
Let go of deep-rooted patterns (repeating thoughts, feelings, and behaviours) that hold you back
Develop healthier relationships with yourself, others, and the natural world
Develop a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment.
Develop the confidence and courage to live a self-expressed life.
How does it work?
About sessions: Sessions are conducted in-person indoors, online or outdoors in safe designated locations. Typically, sessions are one-hour once a week indoors, or three-hours once a month outdoors, or a combination of both. Sessions involve guided discussions and exercises exploring your past, present and future self. Over time sessions become more in-depth and insightful, revealing all aspects of your conscious and unconscious self.
Beyond words: There is a lot in the press and social media about the importance of sharing when it comes to mental health. But it can be hard to find the words to express difficult or complex feelings or to articulate new thoughts and ideas. Sometimes words get in the way, and you need to draw it out, paint it out, move it out, or walk it out. People express themselves in different ways. That’s why sessions combine talking therapy with creative techniques that work best for you. When sessions are outdoors, they involve exercises to engage with your surroundings, that stimulate your self-awareness and imagination.
In between sessions: Through the process, you will learn a lot about your past, present, and future self. But it takes more than insight to generate personal change and transformation. Together, we explore ways for you to practice and experiment with new ways of being with yourself, others, and the natural world around you. I provide tools and techniques for you to use in between sessions that weave nature into the everyday fabric of your life. The more you culitvate your relationship with nature, it soon becomes your mirror and your teacher.
Who is it for?
Sometimes people come for treatment with a specific mental health issue or life situation they want to work on. But you don't need to bring a named topic. You might have a sense that something fundamental is missing or needs to change in your life. The desire to explore and learn about yourself is more than enough for the process to make a transformative difference to your life.
Here are some of the specific reasons people come to psychotherapy and I have extensive experience of working with:
Acute/chronic anxiety
Acute/chronic depression
Burn-out
Low self-esteem and self-worth
LGBTQI+ identity related issues
Living with a Personality Disorder
Loss of meaning and purpose in life
Loss of sense of self
Mid-life transition
Trauma and abuse