Will Eckersley
My approach
I work in a way that is kind, thoughtful and imaginative. First and foremost, I listen deeply – to the content and the process. Over time, I seek to make connections between patterns in your day-to-day life, to patterns from your past, to patterns in the dynamic between us. The result is a growing space of awareness around these that, grounded in a supportive relationship, fosters clarity, meaning and positive change. This involves a skilful blend of compassion and challenge, rooted in my integrative training and personal journey. For this, we may use parts, images, journalling, attention to the body, as well as explorations of your unique history. And we will always go at your pace.
More theoretically, I have a diploma from Re-Vision in Integrative Transpersonal Counselling – which is considered the “fourth wave” and leading edge in psychology. It includes and builds upon the three key paradigms previously in the field's history:
Behaviourism
This evolved in reaction to psychoanalysis by trying to understand psychology through more observable connections to our behaviour. It’s now famous for birthing CBT, which can be effective for granular examination and treatment of specific issues as they manifest (e.g. how to stop obsessive thoughts). Focusing on measurable outcomes makes it popular for short-term work, although I find decontextualising an issue into its mechanistic process can struggle to produce insight, or underlying change...
Psychoanalysis
Developed by Freud and others, this is arguably the origin of modern psychology as a discipline. It posits that mental disorders can be traced back to childhood experiences via what is now unconscious. Such experiences usually involved the repression of instinctual drives, and the establishment of defence mechanisms around them. Some approaches are more purist than others, but given its foundational status, most (including how I work) have plenty of psychodynamic (Freudian) structure woven in. It opens useful insights into our internal processes, and has been built on extensively by the likes of attachment theory, etc.
Humanistic psychology
This movement covers a gamut of newer modalities from the mid-20th century that finally acknowledged the whole of the client, destabilising the old model of a patient suffering a particular pathology being treated by an expert doctor. I fully subscribe to the empathy and equality of its relational style, in which clients are safe enough to begin actually feeling and healing their wounds, rather than just psychodynamically understanding how they work. These approaches include Gestalt, existential, person-centred and TA, and collectively are at the heart of what’s considered integrative.
Transpersonal psychology
Embracing these previous developments, this is emerging from the wave above to integrate a further vital piece – what is beyond (trans) the merely humanistic personal. It can apply to intergenerational, ecological, political and other elements that affect us, yet it’s often associated with our spiritual natures. In practice, the latter entails working with Jungian and psychosynthesis ideas around myths, archetypes and dreams, as well as all forms of timeless and mystical wisdom that has sought to make sense of why, and how, we are in this life.
My own integration of these approaches is to begin grounded in a relational style based on humanistic warmth and unconditional positive regard for all you bring. I avoid short-term CBT interventions unless needed, preferring instead to gently aid exploration of any issue’s roots in your unique history. Guided by you, I work to create the authentic intimacy that precipitates corrective experiences and emotional healing. Finally, I hold attention for those rare moments to honour the deeper, archetypal paths soul may be travelling on in how your life unfolds.
As well as:
Personal development
Awareness
Acceptance & compassion
Action & agency
Resilience
Connection & relationship
Meaning & fulfilment
Clarity
Joy & pleasure
I can help you with:
Depression & low mood
Stress, anxiety & panic
OCD
Grief, loss & bereavement
Anger
Shame & guilt
Abuse
Trauma
Bipolar disorder
Midlife crisis
Existential angst
Career problems & burnout
Relationship breakdown
Addiction
Boarding school syndrome
Identity issues
Intergenerational wounds
Perfectionism
Low self-esteem
Fertility & childlessness
Redundancy & retirement
Spirituality
Racial trauma
LGBTQ+ trauma
Illness & aging
Insomnia
Assertiveness & boundaries
"A psychoneurosis must be understood, ultimately, as the suffering of a soul which has not discovered its meaning… We cannot tolerate a lack of meaning." – Jung
I'm a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
(MBACP 404008). I trained at Re-Vision in Queens Park. Outside of private practice, I have worked for several years as a volunteer counsellor at the Psychosynthesis Trust in London Bridge.
