Hi, my name is Akin and I am an integrative therapist. My practice is an integration of psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

In your search for a therapist, you may have noticed that there are several options available, and if you’re unsure of what you need, this can feel overwhelming and confusing. I’m hoping that by sharing a bit about what I specialise in and how I work, you can get a sense of what help could look like, and what that could look like with me.

What does “integrative therapist” actually mean?

In short, an integrative therapist is someone who is trained and qualified in multiple therapeutic disciplines. I integrate my chosen theories to understand client issues through different lenses and to provide help in varying ways.

The psychodynamic principles I adopt help me to listen out for and understand your unconscious processes: when and how your defences come into play, internal conflicts you are experiencing that are influencing your behaviours, and past, especially childhood and traumatic experiences, that are having present day consequences. With my help, you are able to link your past to your present. This allows you to gain insights that help you interpret your thoughts, feelings and behaviours in ways that lead to greater self-awareness and change.

The person-centred principles of my approach are always present: when it comes to your life, you are the expert. It may not always feel this way, especially if you’re reaching out for help, however, you know yourself better than anyone else, and deep down, you know what’s best for you. I work using person-centred concepts to help individuals better understand and trust themselves, and to work through traumatic and harmful experiences that have eroded this knowledge and trust. I achieve this by creating a therapeutic space rich in empathy and authenticity, and absent of a judgemental attitude – conditions proven to support personal growth.

And lastly, CBT, a mode of therapy focused on helping people change how they think and how they behave, achieved by a process of replacing negative thoughts and behaviours with healthier ones. When integrating CBT into my work with clients, I am a lot more directive and my approach is more solution focused – we explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours (often linked to past traumas) with the aim of understanding you and your experiences, naming what it is you want to change and then identifying and working on specific goals. We’ll collaborate in the development of personalised strategies and coping mechanisms, and we’ll track and review your progress.

There is, of course, so much more I could say about each approach. I hope this provides you with a general sense of what takes place in the therapy room when you work with me.

How long does this process take?

The duration of therapy will depend on you, your issues and your circumstances. You may decide you want open-ended (long-term) therapy – where an ending comes about when you feel the work is coming to a natural conclusion. Open-ended therapy might conclude when, for example, you’ve achieved a predetermined goal, when you feel much better, or when you want to see how you’ll navigate life with what you have taken from therapy and without being in therapy.

Alternatively, you may opt for a specific number of pre-agreed sessions. Reasons for this vary from person to person. You may be taking resources such as time and money into consideration – you’ve budgeted for 12 sessions, for example, or you’re aware of an upcoming life transition such as moving, marriage, a career change or the birth of a child. You want to make use of therapy to manage the change in a healthy way.

Whichever option you believe suits you, I’m here for as long as you need. You may begin therapy thinking you’ll be done in 3 months, and 3 months later find you want to continue. Or the opposite may be the case; you started therapy seeing no end in sight and 3 months later you feel ready to work toward an end. It’s your time and space to use, or to let go of, as you see fit.

It is worth bearing in mind that ending is an important part of therapy. For many, ending therapy brings up endings related to our past, as well as feelings and experiences related to loss. Therapy is a helpful space for exploring these feelings and experiences. When you choose to end, we can do so in a way that acknowledges you, your past, our work together and the direction your life is going in.

Lastly, when you end therapy, for whatever reason, know that therapy is something you can return to. Life happens, things change and support is available.

How will I know where to start?

My goal is to create the space you need to share what you want in your own time. During our first session, we begin laying the foundation by acknowledging and agreeing to the terms of our work. There are important formalities for us to address and respect, and hopefully while doing this we’ll begin to get a feel for each other. I’ll share a little about how I work and will then look to hand it over to you so that you can start. There isn’t too much I can say about this as it’s different every time and for each person. It’s possible, for example, that you’re keen to get started, you have so much to say and you’re eager for me to shut up so you can dive in. The opposite might be the case, you’ve perhaps been dreading the idea of talking or find it unsettling to suddenly be given the space. We’ll see. However it goes, I’ll be there with you to help figure it out.

How would we start unpacking issues?

We’ll begin to unpack issues when you feel you’re ready. This is at times as simple as you talking about a problem or identifying what it is you want to talk about. However, I might ask about specific issues if I sense you’re bringing it up indirectly or avoiding it; in either case you can accept or decline the invite to talk about it. During the early stages of our work (typically the first 2 to 6 sessions), my focus and intent is to get a sense of you, your life and your issues. You’ll find that I’m mostly listening and asking questions; I’m curious and want to know more. The more I hear, observe and understand, the more I’ll feel it’s appropriate to contribute my analyses, insights, challenges and interventions.

I’d like you to come as you are. As best as you can, bring your authentic self; scars, shadows, fears, hopes and all, and be ready to engage in the process. I understand therapy can be challenging, scary, frustrating, and unusual. It can, however, also be transformative.

So, in your own time, let’s talk about what’s brought you here.

If you would like to seek counselling in Bristol with Akin Omobitan, get in touch. At Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy, we have a team of experienced counsellors who are ready to offer support for a wide range of mental health issues, welcoming individuals into safe and non-judgemental spaces within which to begin their journey to recovery. For more information or to book an initial consultation, please email hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk. Alternatively, to speak to us directly, please contact 07751 271 709.