MeWe
therapist
“Life is nothing until it is lived. It is we who give it meaning, and value is nothing more than the meaning we give it”.
(Jean-Paul Sartre).
How do we sustain ourselves when all around us is shifting and in flux?
I particularly explore how we navigate change, loss, choice, anxiety, unhappiness, limitation, alienation, new challenges and our unique difference.
Working with and challenging you to discover your unique responses to your concerns are my focus.
I do not assume I know. Your story and lived experience guides all of our sessions. I meet you with a sense of your individuality and I endeavour to “tune-in” to you "be-ing".
I do not deterministically search for cause or historical influence.
I listen, as we navigate problems of living.
Your possible concerns may be:
Anxiety
Choice
Endings
Limitations
Bereavement
Difference
Meaning
Meaninglessness
Loss
Confidence
Depression
Confusion
Trauma
Shame
Guilt
identity
Issues of acceptance
Conflict
Career transition
Direction
Performance anxiety
Romantic relationships
Couples relationship
End of Life
I particularly work with clients experiencing Anxiety, Change, Isolation, Loss and those involved in elite and grassroot sport (especially rugby), performance related professions (acting, dance, singing), men's well-being, education and teaching.
“MeWe”
'journeying'
Legend has it 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:
... “Me, We” ...
This resonates with fundamental understandings of existential, phenomenological psychotherapy: that of our situated freedom, choice, interconnection, and relational life.
“I am because we are, since we are, therefore I am. I am because of who we all are”.
(Ethic of Ubuntu).
The "MeWe" of our existential therapeutic space always endeavours to embrace this understanding and your unique life experiences.
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Existential Therapy is the opportunity to look again at one’s lived experiences and step beyond labels of disorders or dysfunction.
What if nothing is deemed wrong, but how to live and choose differently is the focus? Many clients find this stance refreshing and validating.
Together we will explore your values, anxiety, confusion, sense of meaning or meaninglessness, choices, fears, loss or uncertainty, through our dialogue.
This path is challenging, not always comfortable, and requires courage.
How we navigate the unpredictability of change, choice, loss, endings, difference and create our meaning is profound. It is the heartbeat of our phenomenologically orientated therapeutic relationship.
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Therapy is sometimes associated with soothing crises and alleviating suffering under an expert professional's diagnostic eye. It is sought in times of conflict, anxiety, or hardship. Many therapies rely on such a relationship and successfully navigate outcomes.
However, such strategy or techniques may evoke distance, imbalance or even alienate clients and be shortlived.
"MeWe therapy" places you and your unique experiences centrally. You will not be judged, labelled, categorised or diagnosed. The important relationship we build will enable exploration of any issue you care to bring and the wisdom to face it.
Here is the opportunity to dialogue safely and confidentially, to gain greater understanding, hope, courage and perspective.
I will listen and work with you until I am superfluous.
“MeWe” is my privilege and our challenge.
client
Perhaps life moves confusingly, where your place and how you live becomes unclear and troubling.
Perhaps traumatic events have left you bereft, lonely, depressed, fragile, anxious and having a fulfilled, vibrant existence seems impossible.
Life, loss, anxiety, endings, relation with others, change, choice, confusion, lack of confidence and meaning may often seem mountains too vague or enormous to manage.
Likewise, your explorations of your unique difference and values, self, sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity too may also bring you to this space.
Opening to trust yourself, may be discovered or renewed through our dialogue.
New horizons appear as you explore again what is important to you. Like journeying “home”, discovering your voice might be challenging, fun, frustrating, eye-opening, anxiety-making, or possibly forbidding. You know where and when to begin. Life’s paradoxes and contradictions become apparent and rather than avoided, will be embraced here and learned how to be-with differently.
You have arrived at this space, "MeWe therapy".
You may have explored other therapies or none.
But you have however, made important choices to be here now. That's already a courageous action.
Let's begin ...