Core Process Psychotherapy
Core Process Psychotherapy (CPP) offers a unique blend of Western psychotherapeutic approaches and Eastern awareness practices rooted in Buddhist psychology. By integrating mindfulness with reflective exploration, CPP helps individuals move from reactive patterns shaped by their past history to informed choices centred in the present moment.
CPP is generally open-ended and over time delves deeply into layers of adaptive strategies, unconscious processes, and character formations. CPP views the mind and body as interconnected, emphasizing that emotional, psychological, and physical experiences are intrinsically linked. This depth work allows people to explore and access deeper aspects of themselves thus enabling greater clarity around their emotions, behaviours, and underlying patterns.
Central to the exploration is a safe and trustworthy relationship with the therapist. Clear boundaries and mutual respect encourage an environment where the client feels seen, heard, and supported. Exploration unfolds at the client’s pace, ensuring that the process respects their readiness and needs.
My Approach
Psychotherapy is essentially relational, and the client – therapist relationship is characterised by the basic equalness of shared human experience. As the therapist, I am not the ‘expert’, whose job it is to cure! Whilst the relationship is co-created, the focus is on the client’s unfolding experience and to explore and work through the places where they feel stuck. It is important to recognise that in this space there is simply curiosity, there is no sense of there being anything wrong in any aspect of our experience, but rather a reliance on and trust in our inherent wisdom. Presence, awareness and compassion for self and other are the key tools for this enquiry.
I recognise that I come with a particular bias formed by my own ancestry, sexuality, sexual orientation, and the social and cultural structures I arose out of and live within. I try to work with an awareness of this and to remain teachable. To the best of my ability, I believe I can acknowledge difference and work inclusively with people whose background is different to my own.
What happens during a typical session
I usually work from chairs at a distance that feels comfortable to you. The content of each session is likely to be different but the way that we work together will have common themes. This will include creating a safe space in which to slow down and find some rest. We’ll try to bring presence, awareness or attention to whatever arises individually and between us. What arises may be bodily sensations, feelings, thoughts and emotions, how we interpret and respond to what arises will play a big part in the space we co-create for the session.
Making an appointment
Entering psychotherapy can feel daunting and choosing the right therapist is important. To help us determine if we can work together, I offer a free initial phone call and a 30-minute introductory meeting. This gives us a chance to explore what you want from your sessions and address any concerns or questions you may have.
I am happy to work on a short-term basis or on a more open-ended long-term exploration and I suggest an initial 6-week commitment. If after this we feel that our work isn’t what you are really looking for, we would explore other possibilities and signpost you to alternative options.
Session, cost and contact details.
Sessions are for an hour each and I can currently have space on Monday afternoons.
As a trainee my rate is £45 per hour.
Contact: russell.cowan@hotmail.co.uk or call on 07837 774851