Virginia Griffin Monk

You might have been experiencing uncertainty and anxiety, or low self-esteem. Your life experience, or how you relate to yourself and others, may be troubling you. There could be patterns in your behaviour which you feel unable to change- history repeating itself. Possibly the ways that you have learned to see yourself and others are unhelpful, and you are want to create better relationships with yourself and others.

We will work together to give yourself time and space to explore and understand yourself better, and how to respond in situations.

You might be at a crossroads or transition in your life or have conflicted feelings, wishing to find your way, in work or relationships.

Many young people are dealing with physical and emotional difficulties. You might have different demands from peers and parents, uncertainties about who you are and how you find your way in the future. You might feel frustrated, not fitting in, and want to feel better, like yourself again.

I bring warmth and openness to my work, seeking to create a trusting relationship. I am flexible and empathic, working to develop understanding and insight to enable self-acceptance and growth. I aim to work with  you in a supportive and collaborative way.

I qualified as a counsellor in 1991 and have completed training in 2006 in Integrative Psychotherapy gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Psychological Studies from Metanoia Institute( Middlesex University)

• I have worked in the longer term with a wide range of issues which include relationships
• anxiety
• depression
• bereavement
• abuse
• work related stress
• interpersonal difficulties
• identity
• self-esteem

I have experience of working on these issues over a longer period as well as more short-term focused work, largely gained through my work within a employee assistance programme and also within a pilot project within the NHS. I have been able to enable clients to gain a perspective on their work/ life situations and interpersonal issues.
Psychotherapy training at Metanoia Institute developed my integrative approach which values relationship drawing on both humanistic and psychodynamic traditions , recognising also the cultural,spiritual and social context of the individual. I may use mindful approaches and art in sessions if you are open to this.