I know that it can take courage to start therapy and often a good deal of strength to continue. I see that often childhood experience blurs dreams and aspirations as we conform to a life that simply doesn't seem to define or align with who we feel we are or were meant to become. My practice, with individuals and couples, is based strongly on linking past experience with present feelings and behaviours. I believe that therapy should be enjoyable as well as, in many ways, freeing. So often I see that clients gain strength and find new direction having entered therapy feeling at their lowest and or quite desperate ebbs - not crediting themselves with the underlying strength it has taken even to start the process of looking for a therapist.I have been working as a psychotherapist for over 13 years, in private practice, agency and NHS settings and have an MA, diplomas and certificates in integrative therapy and counselling. I regularly take courses to increase my learning and attend clinical supervision fortnightly. My work draws on a number of schools of therapeutic thought - mostly psychodynamic, person centred, existential and CBT -  with an overall aim to help my clients feel emotionally stronger with a clearer awareness of what gives their lives meaning. There is a great deal of evidence to show that, whatever school of thought therapy adopts, it is the therapeutic relationship at its centre that is crucial to its success; I strongly believe this to be the case.Before becoming a therapist I worked in the voluntary sector organising major fundraising events and, before that, I worked in the fine and decorative arts."The first step towards not being unconsciously influenced by something is to become conscious of it” Dass (2000) cited by Faris & van Ooijen (2012).