Exploring the landscape of relational purpose

The approaches that inform my work

My approach to counselling and personal growth is integrative, drawing on several therapeutic perspectives that inform how I understand people, their experiences, and the patterns that shape their lives.

These include Parts Work informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), Person-Centred Therapy (PCT), Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), and life coaching informed by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Each approach offers a different way of understanding our inner worlds, emotional experiences, relationships, and capacity for change. Rather than following a single model rigidly, I draw on these perspectives in a way that responds to each person's experiences, needs, and goals.

At the heart of my approach is the belief that developing a deeper understanding of ourselves can open up new possibilities. This may involve exploring our inner parts, making sense of our emotions, reconsidering the stories we hold about ourselves, or developing practical ways to navigate life's challenges.

Parts Work — Informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Parts Work, informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), offers a way of understanding ourselves as having different inner parts, each with its own feelings, beliefs, experiences, and ways of responding to the world.

We might recognise a part of ourselves that strives for control, another that seeks connection, or one that withdraws when things become overwhelming. These responses can sometimes feel contradictory, particularly when we want something but find ourselves reacting in ways that seem to get in the way.

From an IFS-informed perspective, these parts often have protective intentions. They may have developed in response to difficult experiences, emotional pain, or unmet needs, and can continue to influence us long after our circumstances have changed.

In Parts Work, we approach these aspects of ourselves with curiosity and compassion, exploring what they may be trying to protect us from and what they need us to understand. Rather than fighting against our reactions, we begin to listen to them and understand the experiences beneath them.

Over time, this can help us relate differently to ourselves, soften unhelpful patterns, and develop greater internal balance.

I value this approach for the depth it offers in exploring our inner world and for its invitation to meet even our most difficult responses with understanding rather than judgement.

For more information, visit the Internal Family Systems Institute.

Person-Centred Therapy (PCT)

Developed by psychologist Carl Rogers, Person-Centred Therapy is grounded in the belief that people have an inherent capacity for growth, self-understanding, and change.

Three core conditions underpin this approach: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. These involve seeking to understand a person's experience from their perspective, offering acceptance without judgement, and bringing authenticity to the therapeutic relationship.

Person-Centred Therapy recognises that each person's history, culture, beliefs, values, and experiences shape their understanding of the world. Rather than assuming the therapist has the answers, it places importance on collaboration and the individual's capacity to make sense of their own life.

This perspective informs the way I approach counselling and the importance I place on creating a space where people feel heard, respected, and able to explore their experiences at their own pace. The therapeutic relationship itself can provide an important foundation for self-discovery and growth.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy explores the stories we develop about ourselves, our experiences, and our place in the world.

These stories are shaped by our relationships, families, culture, and significant life experiences. Sometimes, they can become restrictive, leading us to believe that we are not good enough, that certain patterns will never change, or that our difficulties define who we are.

A key concept in Narrative Therapy is externalisation — separating the person from the problem. Rather than seeing ourselves as the problem, we explore how a difficulty influences our lives and the circumstances in which it becomes more or less powerful.

This creates room to recognise that our identity is not defined by a single experience or struggle. We can begin to uncover strengths, values, and experiences that may have been overshadowed by the stories we have come to believe.

Through re-authoring, we explore alternative perspectives and develop a fuller understanding of our lives, making room for possibilities that better reflect our values, preferred identity, and hopes for the future.

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) draws on attachment theory and emotion-focused principles to help us understand our emotional experiences and the ways our needs for connection and security influence our responses.

When we feel vulnerable, rejected, or disconnected, we may withdraw, become reactive, or try to protect ourselves from difficult feelings. Beneath these responses, there may be emotions and needs that are not immediately apparent.

EFIT offers a framework for exploring these underlying experiences. Within a supportive therapeutic relationship, we can become more aware of our emotional responses, recognise the needs beneath them, and begin to make sense of familiar patterns.

Rather than focusing only on managing our reactions, this work invites us to understand what our emotions may be communicating and how they relate to our experiences and relationships.

This perspective can support greater emotional awareness, self-compassion, and new ways of responding to ourselves and others.

Life Coaching — Informed by CBT and DBT

Alongside counselling, I offer life coaching informed by concepts and practical strategies drawn from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

CBT-informed strategies explore the relationship between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. By recognising recurring thought patterns, questioning assumptions, and considering alternative perspectives, we can develop responses that better support our wellbeing and goals.

DBT-informed skills focus on areas such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These can help us navigate difficult emotions, respond more thoughtfully under pressure, communicate our needs, and establish boundaries.

Within coaching, these approaches can support goals such as building confidence, changing habits, improving communication, or navigating life transitions. The focus is on clarifying what matters, identifying obstacles, and developing practical steps towards meaningful change.

While counselling may involve exploring emotional experiences and patterns shaped by the past, coaching offers a more goal-focused space to work with present challenges and future aspirations. The approach depends on the individual's needs and circumstances.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these approaches offers a different perspective on understanding ourselves and creating change. Parts Work explores our inner parts and protective responses; Person-Centred Therapy emphasises empathy and the therapeutic relationship; Narrative Therapy examines the stories that shape our identities; EFIT explores emotional experiences and attachment needs; and CBT- and DBT-informed coaching offers practical strategies for everyday challenges.

These perspectives can complement one another, allowing the work to respond to what is most relevant for each person rather than following a single model.

Sometimes, this may mean exploring longstanding emotional patterns; at other times, it may involve developing new perspectives, strengthening emotional awareness, or taking practical steps towards a goal.

Ultimately, my approach is about creating space for greater self-understanding, compassion, and choice, helping people find new ways of relating to themselves and others and moving towards a life that feels more authentic, connected, and aligned with what matters to them.