Hello I’m Diane
I’m an integrative psychotherapist, and additionally a retired academic with thirty years’ experience of teaching, counselling and coaching people of all ages and from many different parts of the world in a university environment.
As you’re reading this, you’ve already taken the first step towards acknowledging your problem, whether it be how to negotiate a life transition, survive an organisational change at work, reduce uncertainty about your career pathway, deal with general anxiety and emotional disturbance, manage the grief felt after a devastating bereavement, or re-construct your identity and place in the world after trauma.
Here, I outline my skills, experience and fundamental beliefs so that you can decide whether you think I can help you.
Believing in the uniqueness of each person and her/his circumstances at any one moment in time, I am committed to a pluralistic approach and your therapy will be the outcome of the collaboration between us
Believing in the uniqueness of each person and her/his circumstances at any one moment in time, I am committed to a pluralistic approach which acknowledges and values the notion that what might work in one session, might not be successful in another, and that what might be appropriate for one client, might feel uncomfortable for someone else. Our relationship will, therefore, be based on the premise that your therapy will be the outcome of the collaboration between you and I, and will reflect your shifting needs within sessions, and from one session to another, as together we travel beyond the boundary of your previous thoughts.
Skills and qualifications
My skills are firstly relational, aiming to create a bond with each client from which mutual trust can grow; and secondly analytical, helping clients to achieve focus on the now, how that may have been influenced by the past, and what lies beyond the boundary of that lived experience – the future as they might like it to be.
My qualifications include a PhD in the area of Social Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Education with Distinction, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Philosophy, Sociology and Psychology), Qualified Teacher Status, a Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and a Masters Degree with Distinction in Counselling and Psychotherapy (MA). I am equally comfortable working in a directive way as in a completely non-directive way.
I hold a deeply-rooted belief that all human beings possess agency but are often not empowered emotionally to exercise such fundamental freedoms or accept their responsibilities. As your therapist, I aim to facilitate your empowerment by helping you to gain personal insight into your own strengths, weaknesses, and inner resources, such that you can achieve the change and future you desire.
Ready to start your journey?
I am only a call or message away from you, so if you think a free complimentary 15-minute initial chat would be helpful to you, please contact me.