“MeWe”
journeying
Legend – or otherwise – has it that in 1975, engaged in speaking tours, boxer Muhammad Ali was invited to give a commencement speech to 2000 Harvard students. At the end of which a shout of “Give us a poem, Muhammad”, led to what may be considered one of the shortest English language poems. His response was: “Me. We.” or perhaps, “Me…Whee…”.
In this resonates fundamental understandings of existential, phenomenological psychotherapy:
our freedom is always situated, relational and interconnected.
Hence, the "MeWe" of our existential therapeutic space seeks to embrace this understanding and encounter you in your person, not as an object (Buber, 1923).
In non-European-centric philosophy, I aim to encapsulate:
“I am because we are, since we are, therefore I am. I am because of who we all are”.
(ethic of Ubuntu).
It is this core "MeWe" relation I nurture in our therapeutic space in an endeavour to encourage meaningful exploration of your concerns and trust in your therapeutic journey.
Therapy is sometimes associated with soothing crises and alleviating suffering under an expert therapist's diagnositic eye. It is sometimes sought in time of conflict, anxiety and hardship. Many therapies rely on such relationship and successfully navigate changed outcomes.
However, expert's strategy and techniques can impose distance and may even alienate.
Existential Therapy here can be the opportunity to “look again” at one’s experiences with fresh eyes and step beyond notions of dysfunction, impairment, pathologising labels or cognitive and behavioural correction.
What if nothing is wrong as such and how to live differently and better becomes the focus?
To explore confusion, anger, uncertainty, choices, anxiety, fear, doubt or what is important to you now, through dialogue is the essence of our work.
It is possible. It is effective. It is long-lasting.
This path though isn’t always comfortable. How we recognise our values, choices and limitations and how we manage the unpredictability and anxiety of change and difference is deep and profound. It is however, the beating heart of our therapeutic space.
“MeWe therapy” offers you the opportunity to talk safely and confidentially through your concerns, anxieties and dilemmas together.
I will work alongside you until I am superfluous.
I work existentially and phenomenologically; expert only in listening.
“MeWe” is my privilege and our challenge.
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"Even though its therapy online for me ... It feels like a partnership developed."
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"Thinking back on my experience with therapy I am so proud of how far I've come. One thing for sure I know is that I wouldn't have been able to get to this point of looking deep into my emotions, thoughts, feelings and experiences without my amazing therapist Neil."
