Clara Zapata

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there” Rumi

When I read this extract of Rumi’s poem if feels to me that it encapsulates therapy in such a beautiful way. For me therapy is the process of engaging in the field of presence with one and other. Presence is that quality of being that supports a growing sense in us that we matter, our voices matter and can be heard and our history has value, and yet, there is more, there is a feeling of being seen in an environment where empathy thrives, where the non-judgmental and congruent space brings a sense of support and potential healing.

In therapy we meet, and we develop a relationship, the type of relating not find anywhere else; even though therapy is not a magic wand, this way of encountering and meeting is very special and this process that when engage together in, can revolutionise our lives and our relationships with ourselves and others. I offer you a space where I am there for you, to listen, to see you and to support you. You can come with your life history, your current process, to reflect, to be and to explore, your emotions are welcome, and your totality is encouraged.

The therapeutic relationship is one in which my warmth and my accepting presence creates a safe and cohesive environment that can activate your potential, for healing, discovery, for self-development, growth or for simply being. I support you in finding your own way, your own voice, in a kind and generous pace that suits you.

The possibility of being met where you are creates a sense of cohesion and openness that is dynamic in its own way, travelling deeper and yet without a sense of being in a hurry, we can take the time needed to discover the map of you and to reconnect once again to your north star, a part of us that gets lost when there is conflict, trauma, depression, anxiety and so many other difficulties in life and the coping mechanisms that we develop throughout it to feel safe and keep going.

In the humanistic tradition, which I practice, the core standing point is that we are all essentially good and that because life happens, we develop defences that helps us to protect ourselves; therapy can offer you a space to understand these places in you and the mechanisms you developed, and little by little discover that underneath it all, your essential being is there, waiting for you and that all you have learnt and experienced in life adds to your potential…working through the post-traumatic distress we can find the growth that becomes treasure and bounty. It is indeed a process, and the therapeutic relationship is the perfect companion to travel the territories of the inner life and how it manifests in the outer world.

We are indeed individuals and in therapy we work together and connect with what you bring, what is important to you, your struggles and your triumphs, your curiosity and your disbeliefs, everything is welcome.

With this in mind, it is also important to note can that we are affected by the systems we belong and the impact this conditioning has had in how our life has developed, in therapy this exploration can create a deeper sense of understanding and a reconnection with our autonomy.

I work with you and your experience, I have been working with therapy, in many modalities for over 10 years and bring with me a depth of experience of working with people from all walks of life. I offer an inclusive space and have experience working with many issues, to name a few, depression, anxiety, loss of meaning, gender identity, body dysmorphia, feelings of isolation and non-belonging, trauma, relationship issues, stress, work related conflicts, addictions, outdated belief systems, social anxiety, parenting, etc, etc