Therapy is a deeply personal and transformative journey, one that requires trust, collaboration, and a commitment to growth. My integrative approach is anchored in Person Centred Therapy and draws on Gestalt, Transactional Analysis and Energy Psychology. I aim to support clients in their unique processes, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and empowered to make meaningful changes. My approach is structured around six key aspects, or what I call the 6 A’s:

1. Creating a working Alliance
2. Identifying Aspirations
3. Establishing a therapeutic Agreement
4. Collaboratively discovering Awareness around presenting issues
5. Identifying Actions for positive change and
6. Attending to actions throughout therapy

Each of these elements builds upon the others, fostering a space where my clients can explore their experiences and develop new perspectives in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. The 4^th, 5^th and 6^th A’s are not linear, in fact during therapy they will all be present, often simultaneously. Let me put some more context around each.

Creating a Working Alliance

Research indicates that the foundation of any successful therapeutic process is the working alliance, or the relationship between a client and therapist. This alliance is built on mutual trust, respect, and understanding. From the very first session, I strive to create an environment where clients feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment.

A person-centred approach prioritizes empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard. These core conditions help clients feel validated and understood, making it easier to engage in deeper self-exploration. By establishing a strong working alliance, we set the stage for meaningful progress, with support navigating lifes challenges.

Identifying Aspirations

Once the therapeutic relationship is established, the next step is to explore aspirations in therapy. What do you hope to achieve through therapy? What kind of life do you envision for themselves? This stage is not just about problem-solving; its about exploring and defining what fulfilment looks like for you on your unique life path.

Some clients come in with clear goals, while others may feel lost or uncertain about their direction. In either case, we work together to clarify desires, values, and personal definitions of success. This exploration fosters motivation and provides a guiding framework for our work together.

By identifying aspirations, clients begin to reconnect with their inner wisdom; the part of them that knows what they truly want, beyond external pressures or past conditioning. This awareness becomes a beacon, guiding them through the therapeutic process.

Establishing a Therapeutic Agreement

This is a collaborative process where we define how we will work together, ensuring that expectations and boundaries are clear, and before commencing into regular sessions, a signed ‘Therapy Agreement’ is required. This ‘Therapy Agreement’ is more than just logistics; it sets the tone for the work ahead including practical elements; such as session frequency, confidentiality, and financial arrangements, but it also covers the deeper aspects of therapy; such as the willingness to engage in honest self-reflection, the commitment to exploring difficult emotions, and the recognition that healing is a process that unfolds over time. Having a clear agreement helps create a container for the therapeutic work with clear expectations. This encourages a sense of agency in healing process, and an understanding that as a client, you have self responsibility for growth.

Working Collaboratively to Discover Awareness

With a solid alliance, clear aspirations, and our therapy agreement in place, we then begin the heart of the therapeutic work; exploring your difficulties. Many clients come to therapy with specific concerns, such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or unresolved trauma. However, a humanistic approach recognizes that these surface-level challenges often stem from deeper emotional and psychological patterns.

Together, we gently explore these underlying patterns, making space for awareness to emerge. This process is not about imposing interpretations or diagnoses but about helping you uncover your own insights. Through dialogue, reflection, and sometimes experiential techniques, my clients gain a clearer understanding of how their past experiences, belief systems, and coping mechanisms shape their present reality. Awareness is a powerful catalyst for change. Once clients recognize the roots of their struggles, they can begin to shift their perspectives, release limiting beliefs, and develop new ways of relating to themselves and others.

Identifying Actions to Take to Make Positive Change

Insight alone is not enough; real transformation requires action. As clients gain awareness around their challenges, we work together to identify practical steps to create positive change. These actions are always client-led, meaning they align with the persons unique values, strengths, and readiness for change.

For some, this may involve setting boundaries in relationships, developing new coping strategies, or making lifestyle adjustments to support mental and emotional well-being. For others, it may mean confronting fears, cultivating self-compassion, or stepping into new opportunities that align with their aspirations.

The goal is not to impose a rigid plan but to empower clients to make choices that feel authentic and sustainable. By breaking change down into manageable steps, clients build confidence in their ability to navigate challenges and create a life that aligns with their true selves.

Attending to These Actions

Therapy is not a linear process; it is a dynamic and evolving journey. As clients move through different stages of self-exploration and growth, we continuously revisit and refine these actions. New insights may lead to shifts in aspirations, requiring adjustments in the process. Unexpected challenges may arise, requiring a return to foundational awareness work. Clients may experience moments of doubt or resistance, making it important to reconnect with their motivation and reasons to engage in therapy. This ongoing attention ensures that therapy remains relevant, responsive, and effective. Clients are not left to navigate their struggles alone; they have a compassionate and consistent ally in their journey.

Conclusion

My therapeutic approach is more than a method, it is a philosophy rooted in deep respect for clients unique experiences and innate capacity for growth. By creating a strong working alliance, clarifying aspirations, establishing a therapeutic agreement, fostering awareness, and supporting meaningful action, we lay the foundation for profound and lasting change.

Therapy is not about fixing what is broken, it is about uncovering the wholeness that has always been there. Instead of what’s wrong with you, it is more a focus on what has happened to you. Through this process, clients can learn to trust themselves, embrace their strengths, and step into a more fulfilling and authentic life.

If you are ready to embark on this journey, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can create a space where healing, growth, and positive change is possible. Please contact me for an initial free, no obligation 15-minute phone call.

Matt Harris - January 2025