Question 1

Why people should engage with therapy?

Accepted Answer

Life often takes us out of balance and harmony, sometimes we struggle to find the peaceful place that is within us all. It can be helpful to have someone by your side to provide the support so you can explore issues safely and in your own way. As a person-centred counsellor, I believe we can all find our way forward and grow through even the most challenging experiences.   Be reassured, you don’t have to face these problems alone. I provide both long-term psychotherapy and short-term counselling, based around your needs.  I enjoy working with clients to help develop insights, to understand better their relationships, and patterns of behaviour, to help build a positive attitude to withstand difficulties   Psychotherapy can help navigate through areas of your life, facilitate more meaningful dialogues, connecting your feelings with your thoughts and enabling positive change.   Finding a therapeutic space to share your life experience can really help you work through and resolve issues where you may have become stuck. We will work together and with my professional guidance help you gain insight and understanding.  This process can greatly enhance well-being, self-awareness, and personal fulfilment.

Question 2

How Does Counselling and Psychotherapy work?

Accepted Answer

If you wish to bring about permanent solutions to any difficulties that you experience, then a talking therapy may be worth considering. Talking therapies that provide an enriched environment, through an attuned therapeutic relationship with me, can bring about positive changes through a new way of being or thinking. Neurobiological research now provides the evidence that support the reasons for observed positive behavioural change, change in thinking patterns and feelings as a result of talking therapy.   Our therapeutic relationship is vital to our working together. It is therefore important that after your consultation with me that you feel that it would be possible for us to work together. However, if you feel I am not the therapist for you, I can provide referral contacts for people I believe may be able to help you instead.   I offer a completely confidential, professional, counselling and psychotherapy service.

Question 3

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Most of the work done by counsellors and psychotherapists overlaps. Psychotherapists, however, work with deep issues that may be somewhat long term.

Question 4

How would your counselling be different to talking to friends or family?

Accepted Answer

You may find that talking to a counsellor can sometimes be easier than talking to friends or family. The counsellor has no history of your story and can remain objective within the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship. I am not involved in your life outside the therapeutic relationship, which can be of benefit concerning confidentiality and may give you a sense of feeling safer about material discussed. I am bound by strict ethics regarding confidentiality. The safety and confidentiality and non-judgemental nature of our relationship can also be more enabling.    It may be difficult for those around you to remain objective when you ask them for help, they may have difficulties of their own and may not be as available to you as they might wish to be, or you need. The purposeful, focussed nature of a counselling session and a therapeutic relationship, means that discussion about anything important to you will be important to me also.

Question 5

What happens in your counselling sessions?

Accepted Answer

Your sessions are there for you to use to help you with any important issues. It will be important to discuss what you would like my role to be in helping you to achieve this. I will work with you to create a safe space within a supportive, attuned relationship and provide the tools to help you explore your feelings, thoughts, behaviour, hopes and fears, which may enable you to become clearer about different life choices.. My training and beliefs means that my work is underpinned by a focus on self-development, growth, and responsibility to help you recognise your strengths, creativity and choices in difficult decisions.   This exploration and processing of your feelings can bring about permanent positive change. This sounds easy and straightforward but as with all journeys the road can sometimes be difficult. Part of my role will be to walk alongside you during these times.

Question 6

What will happen in your sessions?

Accepted Answer

Your first session will be an opportunity to meet and start to get to know each other. To help facilitate this I will ask questions about your background to understand why you may be seeking help through counselling. It will be a good opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have of me or about the therapy process. During this time, it will be important for each of us to think about the possibilities of working together which will include your decision about my counselling you in the future. If you decide you’d like to have further sessions we can discuss this and what you would like to achieve  and when and how often we should meet – session frequency is usually once a week but more or less often might be appropriate for you.   After the first session, we can be focussed on working with your goals and exploring the issues that are important to you in more depth. Thesessions are yours, to get what you need, to bring about the changes you wish to see. The sessions will be led by you and at your pace

Question 7

How long will your counselling journey take? ​ ​

Accepted Answer

There is no concrete answer to this question because you are individual in both your life story and in the reasons that you might be seeking help through counselling. Throughout our time together, we will discuss how your counselling is progressing to ensure it is focused on your needs and that you feel happy with your therapeutic relationship with me. It will be important to discuss any concerns you may have throughout your journey.

Question 8

What can I help you with?

Accepted Answer

Counsellingcan help with difficult experiences or feelings, and any other issues that you feel are important, such as   Anxiety Autism Abuse Bereavementand loss Bullying Carer support Depression Disabilities Discrimination Domestic violence Learning difficulties Self-esteem and confidence issues Relationship problems Self-harm Work related issues Addiction

Therapy is one of the best treatments one can have for major emotional challenges.