Monica-Max West

We all experience difficulties at some point in our lives: it can be helpful to talk to a trained professional.

• Sometimes we just need our therapist to listen, so that we can hear ourselves speak and thereby find our own wisdom.
  
• Sometimes we need them to notice things that we have not noticed, to make connections between our past experiences and present difficulties.
  
• Sometimes we need to have our feelings and experiences validated.
  
• Sometimes we need to be challenged, to be encouraged to see our ‘stuck’ areas or ‘blind spots’.
  
• Sometimes we need information to make sense of things.
  
• Sometimes we need to sit in silence, to get in touch with something deep inside.

As an experienced, qualified and accredited therapist with over 25 years of practice, I offer this, and more, to my clients.

I work with a wide range of individuals and issues, and have specialist expertise in working with difficulties related to childhood abuse/neglect, co-dependency, low self-esteem, trauma and addictions. I also work with ex-pats, creatives and those wishing to pursue a more mindful path.

Whilst my core practice primarily integrates Humanistic and Psychodynamic therapies, I also utilise tools and perspectives from CBT, systemic and mindfulness approaches. 

I value the diversity in human beings, and will listen and respond to the specifics of your lived experience.

In therapy, you might:

• Tell your story; access and define your truth (break silence, end secrets)
• Get in touch with feelings and express them
• Gain insight; understand yourself better
• Allow unconscious thoughts, feelings and memories to surface and be worked through, so that you are more aware and have more choices
• Integrate these new realisations, feelings, and options
• Make changes; address and shift unhelpful patterns

Through therapy, people can grow and change, experiencing new self-knowledge and an expanded sense of freedom, peace and well-being.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Change in therapy may happen through the content (what is said), process (movement in feeling, thought and behaviour) and relationship (trust, safety, acceptance) in therapy.

What you can expect from me is:

• Listening in an accepting, curious and compassionate way to your words; also attending to your unspoken communications
• Encouraging you to speak, to tell your truth, to access your feelings; validating you
• Wondering aloud with you; asking clarifying questions
• Offering observations and making connections between different elements of what you have said
• Inviting you to allow your hidden parts of self to be known, including any heretofore 'forbidden' thoughts, feelings, and secrets
• Helping you to think through new ways of being and, where appropriate, challenging you to consider alternatives
• Working together with you to clarify and identify goals
• Teaching you about mindfulness (where appropriate)

The Psychodynamic component of my approach places importance on the link between the past and present, on looking at patterns in relationships and feelings (including within the therapy encounter itself) and on working symbolically and with the less conscious parts of self. 

The Humanistic component emphasises the importance of the expression of feelings, and focusses on helping you to find your true or 'authentic' self, which may be hidden under longstanding life beliefs about what you 'should' do or be. 

A Cognitive Behavioural approach focusses on addressing counter-productive ways of thinking and behaving that may be inhibiting you from having the life you want.

My way of being as a therapist is also informed by my commitment to anti-oppressive practice, openness to individuals' right to define themselves and their lives, delight in the power and process of creativity, and awareness of the interconnectedness in all life.

I offer both face-to-face and online appointments, during the daytime, lunchtime and early morning (pre-work); most of my work is medium to longer term.

Before making a first appointment, we will arrange a short phone call, so that I can take some administrative details from you, and you can ask any brief questions you may have of me.

If we then arrange a first session, I will first send you an email with some written materials about counselling and the way that I work, along with a confirmation of our first appointment.

The purpose of the first session will be for us to begin to get to know each other a bit, and to assess whether we believe we can work together in a way that will be useful to you.

You will have the opportunity to talk about yourself and what has brought you to counselling. You may also wish to ask me questions about the therapy process, the way that I work as a therapist, or anything in the documents you will have received via email.

During this first session, I will also ask you some specific questions about yourself, such as information about your general health and well-being, and background information about you. This will help me to understand you in the context of your life and will help me to assess whether I believe I can help you with your current issues. I will also ask you for details of any medication you are taking and for the contact details of your GP.

During and after this first session, you may wish to reflect on whether you feel comfortable talking to me and whether you think therapy with me could be useful to you. All appointments, including the first meeting, last for 50 minutes.

My fees are on a sliding scale from £60 upwards per weekly session, based on financial circumstances. The lowest rate (£60) is for those earning less than £30K pa; these places are limited to four, so please do ask about availability. 

I am a Senior Accredited Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Supervisor, and have over 25 years of experience in the field.  I am particularly experienced in clinical work with abuse,  addictions and adults who grew up in dysfunctional families (trauma). 

I work both face-to-face and online.

Where available, I offer daytime, lunchtime and early morning (pre-work) appointments.

My Certificate in Psychodynamic Supervision (Distinction) is from the University of Leicester, where I studied with Michael Jacobs.

My core psychotherapy qualification is an M.A. in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling (Distinction), and my Integration is primarily Humanistic and Psychodynamic. I also hold qualifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, Mediation and Hypnotherapy.  I have further training in Lifespan Integration (Level Two) and a particular interest in Mindfulness.

My fees are on a sliding scale based on income, ranging from £60-90.

Please see my website.

Please see my website.