Counselling services

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Couples Therapy and relationship counselling allows you to explore the difficulties you are facing in your relationships. Conflicts, infidelity,  lack of intimacy and  problems communicating effectively can grind a relationship into a place of deep unhappiness. Together we will look at these concerns and explore what  is preventing resolution, keeping the problem going and  importantly, what is is you both need from one another. 

To find out more about how I work with Couples, please do get in touch for a 20-minute Consultation.

I appreciate the importance of Therapists and their own therapy and have experience supporting fellow Professionals and Students. Counselling sessions are held online and can be long term, short term, single session therapy or ad hoc and offered at a discounted rate subject to availability

I am primarily trained in Gestalt Therapy and also draw from Transactional Analysis, Emotionally Focussed Therapy, Internal Family Systems and Attachment Theory. These research-based approaches have been carefully crafted over my years in Practice to provide the most insightful and transformative ways of meeting human distress to move our of confusion and powerlessness into a place of greater wisdom and clarity. I am also a Trauma-Informed Therapist. This means that I have undertaken significant additional trainings to understand and safely work with trauma and difficult emotional memories

Gestalt Therapy focusses on our here and now experience, in mind and body. It draws together both our past hurts and our fears for the future and brings them into our present moment awareness; our 'stuckness', repeating patterns of thought and behaviour and explores our learned ways of coping that may no longer be useful to us.

Transactional Analysis  looks at the roles we develop (the different parts of us, such as our Child part) and how they play out in our lives and relationships.

Internal Family Systems provides a fascinating insight into our inner workings; the parts of us that are trying to protect us, the parts that are hiding through shame or pain and the parts that are desperately trying to keep some control over our lives. Getting to know these parts, to love and understand them, brings a new unity to our inner world, our sense of peace and the choices we have over our own lives and well-being

Emotionally Focussed Therapy is an evidenced-based approach to psychotherapy. It explores the layers of emotion and emotional experience that might be driving conflict in our relationships and causing turmoil to our inner world. Our emotions influence our thoughts and motivate our behaviour and as such, the aim of this approach is to transform maladaptive behaviours, such as emotional anxiety or emotional avoidance, to enable personal expression of needs and desires and to enjoy more fulfilling relationships. 

Attachment Theory looks at the relationships and attachments formed during our early years and how they influence our style of relating in the here and now. Understanding early attachments enables us to identify patterns in our relationships with others, and work to re-establish safety and connection in the relationships we have now.

In addition, in my work with couples, I work with the above approaches in the following ways - 

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at disrupted emotional connections that can lead to disconnection, conflict or miscommunication, in order that trust and intimate connection can be restored. Transactional Analysis explores how we move between different states of being and brings awareness to how reactive communication, such as criticism, withholding affection or angry outbursts, can play out in our relationships. Attachment Theory explores how we sought safety and tried to get our needs met in our formative years, as these needs (and ways of getting those needs met) persist throughout our lives.

Ultimately, the journey of couples therapy is about raising awareness and giving context to the sometimes dysfunctional way we strive to be loved, understood, accepted and cherished. The beauty of this process goes beyond healthier intimate relationships, into a better relationship with ourselves and others in our lives.

In-person Therapy

I work from two separate spaces in central Margate.

Weekdays I am based in a comfortable airy room within a Christian Church and Community Centre close to the High Street. The ground floor room has access to modern toilet facilities as well as additional disabled facilities. There is on-site parking and the venue is within a short walk of three local bus routes, the nearest stop less than 5 minutes away.

On Sunday mornings I work from another comfortable and spacious room on the second floor of a Georgian building in central Margate. There is on-street parking available, for which you will require a ticket unless exempt, it is close to bus stops and within walking distance of Margate railway station. This room may not be suitable for those with mobility issues due to the number of stairs. Online meeting are available in that instance.

If you would like to arrange a free initial consultation, please do get in touch at:

 ooven5575@gmail.com  or call 07496 936359