ADAM CLAYTON MA MUKCP
Soulful and Compassionate Therapy,
Alwoodley, North Leeds
In-person & Online
Q and A
Welcome to this further exploration of the type of therapy that I practise in my North Leeds office. Becuase I want you to feel as clear as possible about the way I work and to feel calm and regulated as we begin our journey I've included several Q and As. If there's questions I haven't addressed or questions just lead to more questions please drop me a line. Warmest wishes, Adam.
The Relational & Depth Approach
​1. What does it mean to be a 'Relational' Psychotherapist?
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In our sessions, our relationship acts as a 'keyhole' into your world. We look at how you relate to me as a mirror for how you relate to yourself and others. This allows 'exiled' parts of your personality to safely edge into awareness, granting you more freedom and wholeness.
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2. How does an 'Integrative' approach work?
We have different levels of consciousness—some held in words, others in the body or images. I integrate various theories and life experiences to link these different parts of your memory and self. It is a bespoke way of working that honors your unique complexity.
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3. Why would I choose long-term psychotherapy? Deep-seated patterns and early wounds require time and a secure "holding" relationship to transform. Long-term work allows us to sit with uncertainty and understand the contours of your inner world, moving beyond surface symptoms to structural, lasting change.
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4. Why might I choose your approach over CBT? CBT focuses on changing thoughts; Relational Psychotherapy explores the person who is thinking and feeling. If you’ve found "tools and techniques" haven't touched the deeper roots of your distress or your future yearning, this depth-oriented approach is the natural next step.
The Inner Landscape
1. What is 'Parts of Self' work?
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Our memories and relationships form different clusters of feeling, like islands in an Archipelago. Some islands carry care, others trauma. Therapy is the process of building bridges between these islands so you can feel like a cohesive whole rather than a fragmented set of reactions.
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​2. What are Jungian-informed Dream and Shadow work?
I believe dreams are a storehouse of vital information. The 'Shadow' contains parts of ourselves that family or culture deemed 'wrong' and forced into exile. Befriending the shadow is not about the "bad" in us, but about reclaiming the vitality and compassion needed for growth.
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3. How do you work with Dissociation?
Dissociation—feeling 'spaced out' or disconnected—is often a residue of trauma. It can make you feel like you aren't fully alive. We gently encounter these dissociated places together, helping you learn to regulate your nervous system and feel more present in your own life.
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4. What happens in an 'Intersubjective' therapy session?
This means I don't sit as a 'blank screen.' My history, energy, and temperament 'dovetail' with yours. We use this unique relationship to hold and regulate your distress, growing in mutuality and real connection.
Specialisms
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​1. Do you specialize in Men’s Mental Health?
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Yes, Men often carry hidden shame or perform roles that feel like dutiful burdens. They also often have violence and shadow projected onto them. I offer a secure space to 'drop' the 'performer' mask and process relationship struggles, workstress and fatherhood, moving from disconnection towards intimacy and self-acceptance.​
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2. How do you work with Narcissistic and Borderline dynamics?
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I offer a non-pathologising space to process the impact of these traits—whether you recognize them in yourself, your family of origin, or a current partner. We work to understand repeating histories and the 'symbiosis' that often keeps these painful patterns in place.
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3. What is a 'Quarter-life' or 'Midlife' transition?
In our 20s 30s or 40s, we often realize the path we've taken doesn't feel like 'our choice.' These moments are destabilising but full of promise. I help you navigate these shifts from the "first half of life" expectations toward a more authentic second half.
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4. What does it mean to be 'Trauma-informed'?
Trauma can make opening up feel like a "hidden terror." I work safely and at your pace, using grounding and co-regulation. We prioritize your safety and the delicate, organic process of your nervous system over forcing "insight" too quickly.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.