10 Questions with Lisa Barrett

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

• I think the biggest factor that has always drawn me back to counselling, regardless of what other paths I have taken along the way, is my never-ending sense of wonder about human beings - what drives us, what connects us, what challenges us, what makes us who we are as well as the value I place on exploring how we can be the best version of ourselves.
  I cannot think of anything I would rather do than to walk with people in their journey of discovering how they can connect with themselves and others in order to feel most alive. This has become more important to me over time as I have valued my own journey and exploration and those who have supported me.
  

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

• Person centred and humanistic approaches have always appealed to me and I have been influenced by more holistic philosophies. I'm currently working primarily with IFS, Internal Family Systems.

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

• I see the human journey as important holistically but the spiritual aspect of our journey is of particular interest to me as I often see it neglected - in both myself and others. I believe it is an essential and integral part of our journey regardless of how we experience, recognise, articulate or conceptualise it.

• What method/s do you use?

• The main approach I use is Internal Family Systems(IFS) which is based on the premise that we are made of many different parts/personalities that all have good intentions for our system and we are functioning most optimally when we are Self Led- coming from a central place inside ourselves of compassion, curiosity and clarity.

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

• Experience has shown me that it can be anywhere from one session onwards. But generally clients notice some kind of difference within a couple of sessions. Psychotherapy can be an ongoing process so often more will come up to explore or come to light as other things are being addressed or resolved. This is a tricky question because there are so many variables including the client's own idea of what progress is to them.

• How has therapy made you a better person?

• Absolutely. I am a great advocate for therapy because it has changed my life! The insights, support, clarity it has given me as I have had the opportunity to explore my challenges, concerns, spirituality, hopes and dreams (literally!) has enabled me to know myself in ways that have allowed me to make different choices that have changed my life direction. It has increased my compassion, open-mindedness, and the quality of my relationships to mention just a few benefits!

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

• It is cliche but 'making a difference'. To see hope being renewed or coming alive in clients in their process, to witness them discover new awareness, greater self acceptance.. these moments to me are priceless and life enriching. But closely tied to that would be the continual reminder that this role brings to me of our shared humanity and the importance of connection and intimacy.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

• Yes, but a lot less since I discovered GHD straighteners about 15 years ago -another life changer!!
  But yes, I do. And I have parts that try to tell me that I shouldn't and other parts that suggest to me that because I am a therapist there should be less of them! However, part of my life and therapeutic journey has led me to learn to be welcoming to all parts of me. Including the part that says she would be Very Suspicious of anyone who had 'good hair' all the time ;)

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

• Lack of awareness.

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

• Off the top of my head, the book 'Return to Love' by Marianne Williamson is the one I can always remember the name of !
  I also think the 'School of Life' regularly has some great episodes- relevant, useful, easily digestable and often entertaining.