Lynn Somerfield

Transpersonal, Integrative & Relational

Some years ago, I called Apple for support with my iMac.  The technician asked, “Do you mind if I assist you remotely?” and explained what this meant.  I failed see how his suggestion was possible, but agreed because I didn’t want to sound like a dinosaur.   Seconds later I accepted his on-screen request for desktop access and he said, “I can now see your desktop ~ can you see that red arrow?  That’s my arrow.”  I leaned back in my chair and gasped “Whoa! How did you do that?”  I had thought I was fairly computer-literate but this was bordering on science fiction!  And now it’s a commonly used intervention for helping customers with iMac and PC problems.  Nobody thinks it’s weird and I can’t believe I ever thought it was so mind-blowing.

Transpersonal

Discussions about the transpersonal and consciousness can feel like that.  Talk to the uninitiated or a skeptic about a peak experience, active imagination work or the chakras and they may accuse you of gullibility, think you’re a bit crazy, or making it up.

The transpersonal aspect of psychotherapy is associated with spirituality although it is not necessarily connected to religion.  In the context of transpersonal psychotherapy, the spiritual dimension may cover aspects such as searching for meaning in life, listening to the call of the heart (or the soul), valuing imagination and intuition, taking guidance from dreams, cherishing the capacity to love, listening to the instinctual nature, appreciating joy and humour, seeking a sense of connectedness, and so on.

‘Trans’ means beyond, so ‘transpersonal’ means ‘beyond the personal’.  Transpersonal is a term used to describe experiences and views of the world that go beyond the ordinary.  Transpersonal psychotherapy  encourages experiences that challenge our sense of who we believe ourselves to be, that leave us feeling we’ve extended our sense of who we are, sometimes perhaps even contributing to a sense of connectedness to the universe (such as you might experience after meditation or yoga breathing, for example).

Integrative

As an integrative therapist, I tailor my therapeutic approach to the client’s needs. I draw upon a number of theoretical models such as gestalt therapy, process-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, transactional analysis (TA) and Jungian therapy to name but a few.   As ideas about ways of working arise from the material presented in the session, we may use creative imagination, drawing, use a sand tray, toys, role play, bodywork, movement, and so on.  No skills are required by the client and everything is of course discussed and agreed between the two of us.

Relational

The style of therapeutic working relationship I foster provides an opportunity for a genuine and sincere meeting; this helps us remain aware of our mutual influence on   (and co-creation of )the therapeutic process.  The goal of relational gestalt therapy is for the client to become aware of how they ‘organise’ themselves in the world; change occurs when we change our relationship to, or increase our supports in our

About me

Before changing careers in the early 1990s, I worked in the advertising industry for 20 years, working on some famous brands, so I’m no stranger to life in the corporate world.

On the road to becoming a psychotherapist, I worked as an Holistic Healthcare Practitioner, qualifying with Diplomas in Anatomy & Physiology, Holistic Massage, Advanced Massage, Clinical Aromatherapy and Reflexology.

In 1993, I began a five-year training Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education graduating in 1998 with a Diploma in Transpersonal Psychotherapy and going on to study and obtain an MA in Transpersonal Psychotherapy in 2000, followed by Diplomas in Supervision and Advanced Psychotherapy and later trained in the excellent method of trauma treatment Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprogramming (EMDR).  

I am in private practice in three locations in London for three days per week and I work from my home in Bedfordshire on one day per week.

I am a staff member at CCPE ~ a large psychotherapy training centre and clinic in Little Venice, Central London (www.ccpe.org.uk) and I run regular weekend workshops on a variety of topics.

Qualifications and experience and accreditation

My qualifications are listed in the 'About me" section. I am accredited as a psychotherapist and supervisor by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and I abide by their codes and ethics.

Clinical supervision

I am a qualified and experienced UKCP-accredited supervisor.  Since graduating as a supervisor in 2000, I have worked with a variety of supervisees both in groups and individually.

I see supervision as a working relationship. The supervisee presents their work and together we reflect on this and I give guidance and support if required.

My aim is to assist with the professional developmental needs of the supervisee and to ensure best practice is followed. Some examples of this are:

• helping with the assessment of clients
• the use timelines and genograms
• establishing goals for the therapy
• establishing therapy contracts
• setting healthy boundaries
• developing strategies and treatment plans
• establishing a therapeutic alliance
• working with transferential and counter-transferential issues
• parallel processes
• sharpening observational skills
• the use of metaphor and imagery and
• expanding the supervisee’s range of interventions and techniques
• awareness of standards and ethics in counselling and psychotherapy
• …and of course, whatever else the supervisee requires to become a well-rounded practitioner.

I work with supervisees on a one-to-one basis or with groups.  Supervision can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly or on an ad hoc basis, subject to my availability.  I prefer to work face to face but Skype, Facetime, Zoom, etc are also possible.

Locations

Violet Hill Studios, 6 Violet Hill, St. John’s Wood, NW8 9EB. Website for directions:         www.violethillstudios.com                                                                                                                                                                                                      

A Room in Town, Room 2, 17 Gosfield Street, London, W1W 6HE. Website for directions:  www.aroomintown.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            CCPE, Beauchamp Lodge, 2 Warwick Crescent, Little Venice, London, W2 6NE. Website for directions:  www.ccpe.org.uk

Lidlington, Bedfordshire, MK43 0RJ                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

CPD courses and courses for the public

Women and weight
Addictions - friend or foe?
Psychology and the chakras
Balancing the chakras
Integrating CBT (with a touch of the transpersonal)
Integrating gestalt therapy
Creativity in the consulting room
Good Grief (working with dying, death and bereavement)
For more information, dates, costs and locations on these and other workshops, click on the link to the leaflet and/or email me ~ lynn.somerfield@gmail.com

Contact

To contact me email lynn.somerfield@gmail.com or call me on 07762 738238.