It’s hard to believe, but it is 30 years since I started my first counselling training back in 1994. It was then a long and winding road to start practising, until I finally opened my private practice around 15 years ago. That first training was in a transpersonal, parts-based model called psychosysnthesis. I loved it and had an incredible time on the highly experiential three-year training, but the transpersonal focus wasn’t such a good fit for me and my more scientific worldview.

In the gap between doing that first training and starting to practice as a psychotherapist, after a series of underwhelming jobs I began working as a sub-editor and then a freelance health journalist for 10 years – writing for various newspapers, magazines and websites based in the UK and around the world. I see that decade as an invaluable part of my therapy training, because it helped me understand how to evaluate research and introduced me to evidence-based treatments for physical and mental health. I had the great fortune of interviewing world-leading experts in everything from psychiatry to cardiology, osteopathy to holistic approaches to health. It was fascinating and my hungry mind devoured all the new knowledge and ideas. That 10 years also taught me to write, which has proven very helpful for posts like this and the book I am currently working on.

My new treatment model

As a mental-health professional, I have always sought new approaches to psychotherapy, as well as grappling with how best to put them all together. In a by-no-means conclusive list I have trained extensively in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), schema therapy and internal family systems (IFS); as well as learning Janina Fisher’s excellent trauma-informed stabilisation treatment (TIST), psychosynthesis, integrative psychotherapy, polyvagal theory, mindful self-compassion (MSC), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and Buddhist psychology.

If I’m honest, one of the hardest aspects of this journey of discovery was figuring out how to fit all these models together – it was like a puzzle with lots of parts, some of which fit seamlessly while others clashed in some ways. But I’m happy to say I have finally figured it out. This has been made possible, largely, because I have been writing a book on an integrative approach to healing childhood trauma. Nothing helps you clarify your thinking like writing a book – it really helps you figure out what you believe and why.

My new model is called integrative trauma therapy (ITT), because that neatly sums up everything I believe and am passionate about. It’s based on the three phases of trauma therapy, which I have found to be the best structure for any therapy I offer my clients, especially because most of my clients have small t or Big T trauma histories. It’s important to note that other therapists use this description for their trauma-focused work – my unique contribution is the particular blend of models I combine. I would also add that many practitioners do amazing work using pure versions of, say, schema therapy, CBT or IFS.

On the shoulders of giants

This development in no way criticises or undermines these incredible approaches to healing – I am simply standing on the shoulders of giants such as schema therapy’s Dr Jeffrey Young, CBT’s Dr Aaron Beck, or IFS’s Dr Richard Schwartz. In fact, I have always found it odd that practitioners of approach A feel the need to criticise approach B, to claim that their model is superior. I believe that every approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as great richness and depth.

Why not combine the best of them, in a way that seems to help my clients and supervisees, as well as fitting my therapeutic style, which has always incorporated new ideas, theories and strategies to optimally help my sometimes hard-to-help clients?

I will be posting often about the key elements of ITT and how it can help you, as a client or clinician. If you would like to know more about the details of my approach, check out this page on its fundamental principles, or click on the button below to read more.

I hope you find it interesting – and, of course, most importantly that it helps you heal your trauma, which is my greatest passion in life and why I do everything that I do.

Love,

Dan ❤️

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