Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor in Canterbury, Kent

My Integrative Approach

I am an Integrative counsellor, which means I'm trained in more than one therapeutic modality.

When I work with clients, I integrate the different tools, strategies and principles of various therapeutic approaches, depending on your needs. Whether drawing from trauma-informed techniques, mindfulness practices, or psychodynamic principles, I adapt my methods to best support you as an individual.

I believe everyone has their own story and struggles, and that's why a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy doesn't work. Instead, I tailor our sessions specifically to you.

Within this supportive therapeutic environment, I believe you have the capacity to uncover your own path forward. Rather than prescribing directives for your life, my role is to facilitate self-expression and provide feedback aimed at empowering you to make informed decisions about your future.

Here are some key benefits of my integrative approach:

Personalised Care: I use a range of techniques to address your specific needs, ensuring therapy is uniquely tailored to you.
Flexibility: I have a range of therapeutic tools at my disposal, allowing me to adapt our sessions as your needs change and evolve.
Inclusivity: Everyone is welcome in my practice, regardless of gender, sexuality, background, culture, or neurodiversity. I strive to create a safe space for everyone, especially those who may have felt excluded before.
Holistic Focus: Integrative therapy looks at your whole self - your mind, body, emotions and everything in between- to provide a well-rounded approach to wellbeing.
Empowering Tools: I'll give you the practical tools and teach you techniques like mindfulness and body awareness exercises to help you connect with your mind, emotions, and body.
Relational Insight: Exploring your past experiences and relationships can offer valuable insights into your current behaviours and relationships, helping you understand yourself better.
Trauma-Informed: My practice îs trauma-informed, meaning I focus on truly understanding your experiences and their effects on your whole mind-body system. I believe in hearing your story, not just your symptoms, and prioritise fostering a safe , non-judgemental, and gentle environment for you to explore and heal.

Therapies

Person-centred therapy, also known as client-centred counselling, focuses on how you see yourself rather than how the counsellor interprets your thoughts and ideas. This humanistic approach believes that everyone has an innate tendency to grow and reach their full potential. However, life experiences, especially those affecting our sense of value, can block or distort this ability.

In this approach, I work to understand your experience from your perspective. I value you in all aspects of humanity, helping you feel accepted and better understand your feelings. This process helps you to reconnect with your inner values and sense of self-worth, enabling you to find your path to progress.

The core purpose of person-centred therapy is to help you self-actualise, which means growing and fulfilling your potential. As your therapist, I support and guide you through this journey, helping you reach your goals.

Relational therapy, also known as relational-cultural therapy, focuses on the profound impact of relationships on our emotional wellbeing. It recognises that our interactions with others, including family dynamics and social connections, shape our sense of self and how we relate to the world.

In our sessions, we'll explore how past experiences influence your current relational patterns. Together, we'll uncover insights into behaviours that may inadvertently push people away, helping you understand their origins and how to transform them.

Relational therapy aims to empower you by enhancing self-awareness, fostering trust in others, and developing skills in setting boundaries and finding compromise. By cultivating these abilities, you can build stronger, healthier relationships that provide stability and enhance your overall happiness and wellbeing.

Transactional Analysis (TA) is a type of therapy that helps you understand how you communicate and interact with others. It works on the idea that we all have three ego-states within us: the Parent, the Adult and the Child. By exploring these parts and how they influence your behaviour, we can find ways to improve your interactions and outcomes.

In TA therapy, we focus on solving problems and developing practical tools to help you find find constructive solutions in your daily life. The goal is to help you regain absolute autonomy over your life by enhancing your spontaneity, awareness and ability to form close relationships.

During our sessions, we'll explore how your personality has been shaped by your past experiences, especially from childhood. Through thoughtful questions and the use of TA techniques, we'll work together to understand and improve your behaviour and relationships.

Trauma can have a profound impact on your life, affecting how you cope and view yourself. Trauma-informed therapy aims to help you understand the root causes of your distress by asking, "What happened to you?" rather than, "What's wrong with you?".

Trauma can come from a single event, repeated stress, multiple traumatic experiences, or even witnessing someone else's trauma. Each type of trauma can impact your emotional and psychological wellbeing in different ways, shaping how you see yourself and the world around you.

Trauma doesn't just affect the mind; it impacts the body as well. Our nervous system can become dysregulated by traumatic experiences, leading to heightened anxiety, stress or numbness. Trauma-informed therapy recognises the importance of the mind-body connection and incorporates techniques to help calm and reset your nervous system. This might include mindfulness practices, breathing exercises and somatic (body-based) therapies.

In trauma-informed therapy, creating a safe and supportive environment is crucial. I focus on building trust, empowering you, and respecting your cultural background. This approach offers a compassionate space for you to explore your past, build resilience, and move towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Contact Me

To book an appointment, please call me on 07368 458050 or email

info@hannahmetternichtherapy.co.uk using the contact form below.

My Integrative Approach

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