John Cheesman

The way I work as a counsellor is primarily informed by what you the client bring to the room: that is your presenting issue or reason for coming into therapy, what you want to work on and your goals and desired objectives. Trained in the Integrative approach combining the Person Centred and Psychodynamic models, I work in a way that is relational and collaborative. In other words I am not here to supply answers but rather to work with you in finding your own direction and perhaps your own answers. This entails exploring your thoughts and feelings in the here and now and the way you see yourself. It may involve considering where your values come from and how those values effect your life. As part of this focus it might be helpful for us to look at the way you relate both to your self and to others. The relationship between you and I may become a way of highlighting the way you relate to people outside of the counselling room. The psychodynamic aspect of our work will look at patterns of relating in the past and how they inform the present, past experiences and the defences that have been developed as a result.  However it is you the client who decides what you want to work on. I may challenge you at times but I will do so in a way that is empathic, genuine and non-judgemental. The way I work is founded on trust and a human connection and is very much client centred.