My counselling orientation is rooted in attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology. Put simply, I believe that the emotional and relational patterns that we learn in childhood often impact the lens we view the world through as adults.

 

This means that sometimes the issues we come to counselling with are not explicit problems, per se, but rather symptoms of a wound that occurred a long time ago. For example, if I got scolded every time I cried as a child, I would likely learn to hide my tears and might develop a belief that expressing sadness is weak. Fast forward to adulthood, and perhaps I notice myself feeling anxious every time something sad happens. Because I learned all those years ago that sadness was not OK to express, the emotion continues to get stuck inside rather than moving through my nervous system.

 

Utilising the container of the safe, trusting therapeutic relationship, therapy can provide an opportunity to go back in time and put the medicine where the wound is. This type of 'bottom-up' approach is best suited for people who are willing to be open to their inner experiences and perhaps try out new ways of being in the world.