Charlotte Dryer
Psychotherapy & Counselling
For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice……
Why Psychotherapy or Counselling?
Sometimes life can throw up difficulties and challenges that seem insurmountable: bereavement, loss or an unwelcome change of circumstances, or simply feelings of being overwhelmed. Sometimes we have found ourselves getting into unhelpful patterns of thinking or addictions, or want to change things about ourselves that no longer feel right but don’t know where to start. Sometimes it is hard even to identify what is causing feelings of persistent anxiety or sadness, or depression.
Perhaps you’re in this situation and feel you no longer want to be in it alone; that it’s time you looked for help from someone else. It may be that counselling can help you. Counselling does not usually provide instant solutions, but as you hear your own voice in a new sort of way, a different kind of conversation can emerge and change can feel possible.
Taking the first step of getting in touch with a therapist can be hard. It can feel like taking a huge step into the unknown, and you may have many questions about whether it would be something that could help you. And it's true that counselling can be uncomfortable and difficult at times as we face up to difficult emotions and realities. But for most people getting in touch with a counsellor is a hugely positive step forward in seeking to understand yourself better, and improve your quality of life.
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What is my Approach?
I have trained as an integrative psychotherapist. This means that I combine a number of different approaches in my work. First I aim to be ''person-centred", seeking to understand an individual’s experience from their perspective and helping them locate and access their own inner resources to enable them to thrive. I also work from a "psychodynamic" perspective. Psychodynamic therapy recognises that much of our behaviour and feelings are shaped by processes which we are not conscious of, and which often spring from our past experiences and relationships. Psychodynamic therapy involves understanding how our past has shaped our present, and created patterns of behaviour and activity which may need to be unravelled.
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Counselling involves being listened to without judgement or criticism, being heard and understood. It gives the opportunity and safe, confidential space to explore and seek to understand our behaviour, feelings, experiences and relationships.
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I offer both short and long term therapy and work in an open-ended way, with no minimum or maximum sessions prescribed. I generally work face to face, but can also work online if preferred.