ABOUT ME

With knowledge of different psychological theories and therapeutic techniques, my approach is holistic and eclectic. I learned from my work that different media and techniques suit various people according to their needs and preferred forms of expression. My work is based on the principles of Art Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic, Jungian and Systemic Therapies, and is supported by the latest evidence from Neuroscience and Somatic Psychology. I believe in the connection between body and mind and I work a lot with the body.

In my sessions, I offer a professional therapeutic relationship of trust, empathy and respect in which I aim to help you  feel comfortable and safe to bring issues that concern you and thus make sense of them in order to find inner balance and peace in your life. You can talk about what worries you and/or express yourself in creative ways. I follow your pace and listen to you without judgment or interference, offering reflections and questions that will help you explore the topics relevant to you. The exploration in therapy of certain feelings and behaviours will lead to a better understanding of these and may facilitate the resolution of deeper problems.

Depending on what you are looking for and what makes sense to you, I may suggest specific exercises that may be helpful to you at certain moments in your process. These may include guided visualizations, role-plays, relaxations, body movements and readings. Where appropriate, I can also recommend cognitive-behavioral strategies that may benefit you in developing awareness of negative thought-feeling-behavior patterns and helping you create alternative patterns.

The use of creative media in therapy offers an alternative form of expression that can assist you in communicating feelings or experiences that are difficult to be put into words. I work with images as extensions of a person and see them as embodiment of one's experiences. No previous artistic experience is necessary. My Art Therapy background allows me to work with symbols, metaphors and images as manifestations and communications of the unconscious. The unconscious can be described as a layer of the psyche, or the totality of the human mind, where attitudes, beliefs, memories and ideologies normally hidden from consciousness, are stored. Such manifestations can arise through paintings and images, through the use of projective methods (for example, when we look at scribbles and see an image), through dreams, your imagination, visualizations, and other situations in everyday life. According to the Jungian approach, it can be extremely rich to explore the meaning of the unconscious aspects that emerge from the psyche, as they can provide information about you and the way you see the world, and help you find a balance between the various components of your psyche and the different parts of your Self.

At times, it may be important to work with the relational dynamics that emerge between us and to look your past history, in order to help you in your present process. At all times you are in control and in each session we will work with what is relevant for you at that particular time.

As required by my professional body, I attend regular supervision with a qualified clinical supervisor, who maintains full confidentiality regarding all of my work and I carry a professional idemnity insurance. If you feel that you would like to work with me, I would love to hear from you.