Dene Gilbert

I am a Person-Centred Counsellor/Psychotherapist. I offer a supportive, empathetic therapy through which we can explore new perspectives on self, on relationships, and on life in general. Previous clients have appreciated my calm and caring attitude, that I listen carefully, and accept them as they were without judgement.

Central to my approach is building a safe and trusting relationship, allowing us to work cooperatively on whatever aspect of your life you choose. You decide what you want to explore and at what pace. Through careful listening, I am able to recognise recurrent themes and key emotions or thoughts. With curiosity, I may ask you to reflect on what might be understood from these observations.

Having a space to explore our feelings and thoughts, and to speak out loud our fears can be transformative. We can investigate the causes of anxieties, low moods and a wide range of emotions. In doing so, we can recognise how we might be driven by deep emotional responses, and that we maybe stuck in patterns of behaviour which are no longer useful. If we can recognise our emotions and thoughts rather than simply react to them, we can gain greater insight and control in our emotional lives.

My qualifications include a Bachelor Degree in Psychology (BSc Psych, Hons) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (PG Dip). I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). There are a variety of ways practitioners work. I have been trained primarily in three therapeutic approaches:

'Humanistic or Person-centred', 'Psychodynamic' and 'Existential'.

I have had further training in CBT, Gestalt, Compassion-focussed Therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. My training has been Integrative.  This means that I am not tied to any one approach, and that I am able to adapt my style to suit you and your individual needs. However, while some aspects of my approach might change, at the heart of the sessions will always be an empathetic, caring, warm and positive attitude. I work collaboratively to discover meaning and develop deeper understandings of self.