Dinah Butler

I currently have appointments early morning, day time and evening Monday to Thursday. Sessions are on zoom only.

I bring over 30 years experience working  briefly or longer term, in the voluntary sector, the NHS and in private practice. Our work together will involve a collaboration to find what suits you and your situation.

I am an Integrative therapist. While I explore early relationships, we also focus on how things are now. The quality of the working relationship is a key part of the effectiveness of therapy which means I provide a supportive safe space to explore difficult things. Work on self-acceptance is usually needed. There are important discoveries and shifts in the session but also between sessions  as you practice new ways of thinking and being.

I am a European Mentoring and Coaching Council accredited coach and can work on the border between coaching and counselling as appropriate.

I integrate the use of Energy Psychotherapy into my work. This involves mind-body techniques for dealing with difficult feelings and trauma. EP increases emotional insight, helps regulate emotions and is effective for working through trauma. 

I have a holistic focus and explore your current lifestyle and important relationships. Perhaps you know what keeps you well but struggle to stick to it. Understanding cycles of change and relapse is important. 

Anxiety, depression, stress and burn out are common mental health issues which affect most people at some time. I explore the underlying causes as well as specific steps for recovery. 

I work with many creative people; with the creative practice as well as the associated life challenges. These industries usually have access issues which will get addressed in the work.

I am committed to anti-discriminatory practice. I work with many black women and women of colour on fulfilling their potential, on issues of identity and recovering from adverse work situations. Difference often means making your own path. I walk alongside, give encouragement and act a resource for figuring things out.

Issues I work with:

childhood trauma

anxiety

depression

alcohol use

creative blocks

workplace issues

career

relationships

friendships

establishing healthy boundaries

family issues

identity

perfectionism

cancer and long-term health issues

bereavement

separation and divorce

coming to terms with change and endings

life stage issues e.g. 30 something

body issues

stress and burn out

work-life balance

finding a sense of meaning and fulfilment

confidence

imposter syndrome

dating

self-care

self knowledge and understanding emotions

support with achieving goals

I offer a free 30 minute introductory session. We can discuss what brings you to therapy and what would be most helpful for you at this point in your life. We may end up going into things in detail or you may have questions for me about how I work. At the end of this, you will probably have a sense of whether you would like to try working with me and how we might work together. This is an important choice and many benefit from going away and thinking about it or meeting with other therapists before booking in the first session.

In the first full session, we will talk about your current life in detail : work/ career, education, physical and mental health, housing/ home life, friendships, relationships, hobbies and interests. Talking about your background and childhood helps to give me a fuller sense of who you are, your influences, strengths and struggles which influencing you now. This discussion usually brings up important patterns and questions. I work collaboratively and together we will identify which of these patterns and questions you wish to address now and what kind changes you would like and what the obstacles are.

I have availability day time or evening Monday to Thursday. I work over zoom.

I have over thirty years experience as an integrative counsellor. My training has included psychodynamic therapy, intercultural therapy and Energy Psychotherapy. I have worked in the voluntary sector as well as the NHS and in private practice. I have run training as well as taught on an Intergrative Master's programme, run case study groups, provided individual clinical supervision and supervision for mentors and advocates in the community. I am also a European Mentoring and Coaching Council accredited senior coach.

As a supervisor, I work collaboratively to make sense of the work you are doing, the client communication and counter transference feelings. Clients often indicate directly or indirectly where the work could go wrong, where the relationship could break down, or what makes them leave prematurely. Helping a therapist to notice and address these issues can lead to valuable work. 

A therapist brings their whole self to their work and I create a safe space where anything can be discussed to support your presence with your client, your thinking but also to safeguard you in the demands of the work.

The therapy practice and clinical supervision itself are key places of ongoing learning. I take my role in this seriously. I am also committed to anti-discriminatory practice and together we will work through  the ways that discrimination affects individuals and society both as therapist and client.

Choosing a clinical supervisor is an important step. I offer a free thirty minute zoom call to explore how we might work together and whether I fit what you are looking for from a therapist.