Mr Nathan Dick

A conversation with Nathan Dick

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  As a manager, leader, parent, uncle and partner over the last 20 years I have found people often seeking me out for advice and support with the challenges of life. After many suggesting that I take up a career in counselling and psychotherapy I finally made the decision to do so.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I'd say the most influential philosophies/theories are field theory and attachment theory.
  
  Field theory: I am trained as a Gestalt therapist. One of the foundational pillars of Gestalt therapy is field theory, which makes Gestalt a "therapy of the situation" - so we seek to always be raising awareness and adding greater complexity to a client's situation. This causes paradigm shifts as I find when one comes to understand their situation more complexly, self-acceptance is a natural result and through acceptance the possibility for change opens up. Another important component of field theory is that clients need both internal and external support for change. So, we work in an ongoing process of discovering supports that are already available, exploring and appreciating them, and also at cultivating new supports (internal and external).
  
  Attachment theory: This theory comes naturally to me. Since becoming a parent in my early 20s I've felt a strong drive toward justice, care and respect for children. My aim as a therapist is to create a secure attachment relationship with my clients. I find that often the secure relationship they develop with me is the first one of their life. This new therapeutic relationship creates new neural pathways - new internal schemas of relational possibility. A new way of being in relationship, with self and other. This means my clients develop new embodied skills and ways to create healthy, safe and supportive relationships in their lives - outside of the therapy room.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  As above, I am interested primarily in the development of secure attachment. This is foundational for psychotherapy and counselling, as it is where and how the therapy is possible. This doesn't mean we are not working on any area of my clients' lives. It does not mean that my clients are not challenged. But if there is a significant rupture or missattunement, we always come back to the relationship through repair. This is the only way I will work with my clients. I believe it is necessary to attend to shame and trauma in a safe and trusting relationship. Relational hurt and trauma requires relational healing.

• What methods do you use?

  I am trained with a Masters Degree in Gestalt therapy, advanced training in Depth Enquiry, but primarily I work as an emotionally focussed therapist, with individuals and relationships. My work is informed by contemporary neuroscience and research into complex trauma (C-PTSD). My work is always trauma and attachment-theory informed. Working with my clients often involves the following: two-chair (empty-chair) work, movement, postural and embodiment techniques, mindfulness and awareness-raising, moving towards healing through corrective emotional experiences.
  
  I acknowledge that sitting face to face with a therapist may not be the best approach for some people. I also offer walking, surf and outdoors/nature therapy.
  
  My approach is embodied and will often involve experiments, once we have created a safe ongoing relationship. I work with my clients, supporting them to try out other/new ways of being together.
  
  I am interested in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and I'm trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Depending on what you are seeking support for meaningful and lasting change can take time. I always support my clients to build exercises and experiments into their daily lives, to enhance and accelerate the work we are doing together in therapy and to reduce the amount of time needed to meet their goals.
  
  Most of my clients notice shifts and changes in the first session, often that is related to the feeling of a new possibility or hope, previously missing. Many of my clients inform me in the first session that that have never told anyone else some of the things they're telling me.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Learning about psychology, counselling and psychotherapy has changed the way I see the world, and people in it. I am yet to meet a person who I would write off. Everyone can get help. I find, if we raise enough awareness, there is always a reason behind a behaviour; a need seeking fulfilment and most often - somewhere in there - is a small child seeking validation, affirmation and attunement. We can find the "why" through exploration of the "how," here and now.
  
  I have been a client in therapy, having had hundreds of hours personally in therapy. In addition, I've undertaken an academic masters and completed a published literature review referencing over 70 sources about trauma, culture and attachment theory. Additionally, I receive expert supervision and ongoing training each year.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love helping my clients understand themselves better, especially when related to their childhood experience. I love that moment in therapy when my clients find a new surprising hope, that has previously been missing (sometimes for their whole life).
  
  I love celebrating my clients' wins with them, and supporting them through their toughest times by gently listening, validating. I love helping my clients reframe what they previously saw as "something wrong with them" into a creative and adaptive tool which they can choose to use if and when needed.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Yes, I have come to accept these days, often they last a few days or a week. I find my own therapy and supervision supportive. I also have built a network of people around me who I trust and am able to confide in.
  
  Over time, I have found that usually these bad-hair days (or weeks!) are linked to my own personal and professional growth. Often they come with much self-doubt and many questions about where I am going with my life and my practice. I am learning over time to notice when I am in one of these "ruts" and to allow and accept it. This does not make it easy, but eventually there will be growth through the experience.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  The most significant problem we face is probably climate change, however, I think we are thwarted from facing the challenge largely due to the disconnected individualism of the West. I think we need to find ways to relate to others from all walks of life and all political agendas. I think when we really understand another with cultivated empathy and care we can share their plight, and others can share ours.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
  
  I see myself primarily/first as a parent. I have three children, but I feel the responsibility of parenting extends beyond my immediate family.
  
  The relationship in this book, between father and son, moved me to tears many times and inspired me to greater authentic care and love for my children, and others generally.