10 Questions with Debby Heath

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

• I want to be of service and know that counselling and psychotherapy can support profound growth and healing that has a 'ripple effect' in the world. I believe this work is a 'calling' more than a job and I feel grateful to be able to be of service in this way.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional/personal development?

• I have learnt from many different philosophical approaches in my life and training, including humanistic, holistic, contemporary psychoanalytic, transactional analysis, relational, existential, transpersonal and Buddhist perspectives. Somatic psychotherapy has always been an area of interest to me and I have completed training in Integral Somatic Psychology, so my approach is also somatically informed.
  
  I work from an integrative relational transactional analysis perspective, which integrates my learning from all the above approaches.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

• I love working one-on-one with adults.

• What method/s do you use?

• I work from an Integrative Relational Transactional Analysis (TA) perspective, which uses the therapeutic relationship to understand the conscious and unconscious dynamics in your relationships and can help you to develop more authentic ways of relating to yourself and others.
  
  It is a holistic approach in terms of working with the whole person: mind, emotions, body and spirit, and it takes into account your history, culture, family, work and social environments.
  
  I have recently completed training in Integral Somatic Psychology, so incorporate body awareness in sessions in order to expand the body's capacity to stay with difficult emotions whilst responding to them appropriately at the same time. It can also increase our capacity to self-regulate our nervous system.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

• It varies from person to person depending on what they present with, what they are hoping to achieve and how they define 'progress'. Just making the appointment can feel like progress is being made to many people who have thought about going to counselling or psychotherapy for a long time.
  
  Most clients express some relief after the first session and tell me that it was 'good to get it off their chests' and that they feel 'lighter' having done so.
  
  I let all my clients know that they may feel worse before they feel better, especially when working through trauma, as the painful material is processed sometimes for the first time in many years or at all.
  
  I work with people for as long as it takes to reach their personal therapeutic goal and we reflect together on their progress throughout the therapy.

• How has therapy made you a better person?

• I experienced profound change and growth through my own therapy, so know from a lived experience that therapy with the right practitioner can be life changing.
  
  My experience as a client has given me a real appreciation of the vulnerability and courage required to do the 'work' of therapy, as well as gratitude for the positive impact of the therapy on my sense of self and my life in general.
  
  Knowing that therapy 'works' allows me to stay with clients in their moments of deepest despair with enormous compassion, empathy and trust in the process.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

• The privilege of getting to work with and know so many courageous and resilient people. I feel so grateful to be able to do this work and learn so much from every client - it is really humbling.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

• Of course - I'm human after all. I appreciate my clients' patience with me when I sometimes struggle to find the right words or make a mistake (which I will always take responsibility and apologise for). It's part of the process and sometimes it helps clients to realise that unintentional ruptures can happen and be repaired in a healthy way. Often these are moments of greatest learning and healing. I am always mindful of not letting my 'bad hair' days impact the therapy in a negative way and that is why I participate in my own regular supervision and other personal and professional support.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

• A lack of real connection to both self and others. I believe that if we were more loving and connected to our 'real selves' we would have better relationships with others - more love, empathy, compassion and kindness - and there would naturally be more collaboration and less conflict in the world.
  
  This is why I believe therapy is so important and why it's such a privilege to do this work.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

• Any book, film, song or work of art that moves me emotionally inspires me to be kinder, more compassionate and more courageous.