I have been supervising a lot lately and, as a part of this process, have been encouraging supervisees to enter into therapy. Many are already there, as are many friends, and we share stories about our experiences. Overwhelmingly, the responses are average to negative, as people feel invalidated and misunderstood. Often they feel little to no connection, or that they are being patronised. I have collated their feedback, looked at the research, undertaken advanced training in techniques, reflected on and challenged my own practice, and trialled, with therapists, my own search for the best way to be with people.

My aim is to create a safe, warm, empathic space for therapists to do the higher level of work that they desire. Working with clients gives us all the opportunity to work on ourselves, and to quote Carl Rogers, “the degree to which I can create relationships, which facilitate the growth of others as separate persons, is a measure of the growth I have achieved in myself".

Where to find that growth and how to do it can be difficult to find, I would like to try.