Alice Noe

You may want something to change without yet knowing what that change should be or where to start. I offer a thoughtful and engaged space in which we can explore how you experience yourself, your relationships and the life you are living. My approach is existential and phenomenological, which means trying to understand your experience in its own terms rather than fitting it into a ready-made explanation. My way of working is relational, conversational and down to earth. I work collaboratively and take an active part in our conversations. I will share observations, ask questions and offer different perspectives when they might help us understand what is happening in a new way. You do not need to arrive with a clear explanation of what is wrong or a particular goal already decided. We can begin with whatever feels most pressing, troubling or difficult to put into words, approaching it together with openness and curiosity. Alongside thoughts and feelings, we may also pay attention to what is happening in your body. This might include noticing where an emotion seems to live, or paying attention to a sensation, posture, gesture, image or something harder to describe. Rather than rushing to interpret it, we can stay with it for a moment and notice what emerges. I also pay attention to how culture, identity, sexuality, class and social expectations shape what feels possible, and what happens when you feel out of step with them. We will explore what you are going through in the context of your relationships, history and circumstances. Therapy offers a place to question familiar assumptions, understand your patterns more fully and discover greater freedom in how you meet your life. This may involve accepting some realities while finding that others can be approached differently. If you are unsure whether therapy or working with me might be right for you, I offer a free 15-minute introductory call. You do not need to know exactly what you want to say; we can simply have a conversation about what has brought you here and how we might work together.