Bricolage Consulting

Service Philosophy

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
Alan Watts

Bricolage is an approach that takes seemingly disparate fragments and leftover pieces from experiences, practices, traditions and prior knowledge and recombines them in novel ways. Like a handyman using the materials available, the bricoleur (facilitator, consultant, supervisor, counsellor or therapist) pieces together interventions and strategies from multiple sources rather than strictly following one model or philosophy. Bricolage embraces an improvisational spirit, rejecting rigid adherence to pure or uncontaminated forms. It is a creative, context-sensitive process of re-purposing intellectual bric-a-brac into newly synthesised frameworks adapted to the unique needs of each client or situation. For the bricolage consultant or supervisor, this means drawing flexibly from various models and weaving together personalised solutions from the range of approaches and techniques at their disposal. Bricolage values pragmatic hybrid thinking over dogma.

What we do

"Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves"
Brach. T (2004)

About Me

Immersed in the intricate interplay of psychology, psychoanalysis, existential philosophy, and anthropology, my work examines how invisible societal structures shape lives from childhood to adolescence. Encountering the self through traces and fragments, I explore how class and caste systems mold developmental pathways, weaving through shame, guilt, and social suffering. I strive to nurture resilience and equity, fostering environments where every child can flourish beyond preordained hierarchies.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

Our therapeutic approach involves active, attentive listening and meaningful dialogue within a professional relationship. Awareness that emotional suffering, such as depression, often stems from feeling disconnected from one's authentic self and ways of being. Therapy can alleviate this discomfort and alienation by accepting and understanding clients' experiences in their sociocultural context. This approach aims to empower individuals by making sense of their histories and how these narratives have shaped present difficulties. Rather than imposing a universal theory, there is an intense interest in understanding the diversity of human experience and differences across identities, cultures, and life stages. Particular attention is given to existential struggles arising from significant life events, such as grief, dislocation, parenthood, mid-life transitions, and other pivotal junctures.

Group and/or Institutional Process Facilitation

In addition to individual and couple therapies, therapeutic groups have focused on various topics and issues. Group therapy provides a supportive environment for exploring challenges with others who share similar experiences. Groups allow for insightful discussions, practising new behaviours, and giving and receiving feedback. Group dynamics are also explored as a mirror to relational patterns outside the group setting. They support shared goals, such as decision-making, problem-solving, and knowledge exchange, without dictating. A nuanced approach nurtures experiential, active learning through participant-driven cooperative enquiry.

Consultancy

The consultancy services are offered to organisations, educational institutions, and community groups on mental health, well-being, diversity, and inclusion. Through interactive training, workshops, seminars, and advisory services, I aim to promote awareness, cultivate empathy, and provide guidance for creating psychologically safe environments. My anthropological background allowed me to approach consultancy from a culturally informed, holistic perspective.

Writing Ourselves (workshops)

Writing can be a profoundly therapeutic practice, offering a safe haven for self-exploration and emotional healing. Through my in-person and online workshops, I guide participants in leveraging writing as a tool for personal growth, self-awareness, and connection with others. Whether delving into a research project, crafting a memoir, journaling, or exploring a commissioned theme, these sessions utilize stream-of-consciousness techniques to deepen awareness and facilitate transitions. Tailored for small groups, institutions, and organizations, the workshops create a nurturing environment where writing becomes a healing process. This fosters resilience, insight, and a sense of connection among participants

I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they sense, once the hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain

Notes of a Native Son
James Baldwin

It is very nearly impossible to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent Mind

Fire Next Time
James Baldwin

You want to fly, you got to give up
the thing that weighs you down

Song of Solomon
Toni Morrison

By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The
nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired

Kafka's Diaries

Please get in touch with your primary care doctor or the NHS 24 helpline at 111 if you need immediate assistance. Alternatively, contact the Samaritans at 116 123, Breathing Space at 0800 838 587, or Childline at 0800 1111.

“When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”
Alexander Den Heijer