What is Counselling?

 

Counselling is a talking therapy carried out by a trained professional in a judgement free, confidential space. It can help you to manage a range of emotional difficulties and issues in your life. People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons and you do not need to be in crisis or have a mental health problem to benefit from it.  It can be a space for growth, reflection and personal development. Areas you may wish to focus on can include:

 

• Understanding, processing and regulating feelings and emotions in mind and body.

• Developing more self-compassion and care towards yourself.

• Improving your sense of self worth.

• Improving boundaries and communication in relationships.

• Finding a sense of meaning, purpose and and belonging in life.

• Making sense of your family system and related childhood experiences.

• Challenging thought patterns and behaviours.

 

Where do I start?

 

Start wherever you feel comfortable. In the first few sessions, we will be getting to know more about you and what has brought you to counselling. It is a settling in phase where you will start to unpack and explore your worries in a bit more depth. However, there is no pressure or expectation to 'dive in' and working at the right pace is important.  You may have specific things that you want to work on or things might feel a bit more unclear- both are totally ok!

 

Over time, coming to sessions regularly will support you to 'thread' things together and begin to build a deeper understanding of the source of your issues and how things are impacting on you today. I believe that a safe and quality therapeutic relationship can hugely support your progress. Feeling heard, understood and comfortable to go to the uncomfortable places will help you work towards your goals and wishes with more confidence.

 

What is a session like?

 

We will always focus on whatever you wish to bring, which will guide and shape the direction of our work. Therapy can be challenging and painful at times, as you begin to turn towards and work with difficulty. It is ok to bring the whole of you- crying and swearing is totally ok with me! It is normal to feel a bit more emotionally tender than usual after sessions.

 

We will check in at the end of each session and think about what you may need to take care of and resource yourself in between the times that we meet.  Going through a therapeutic process can also feel very rewarding. It can bring about new insights, changes and hope. You may also feel lighter as you process your feelings, explore your potential and build new ways of living and being in the world.

 

Therapy is not a quick fix and sustainable change can take time, however small steps can make a huge difference to how you feel overall. I will check in with you at regular intervals to review how things are going and whether you feel that we are heading in the right direction.

​

Why work with me?

​

Human beings are incredibly resilient and we can all develop ways of adapting to survive through difficulty and suffering. I will support you develop deeper self-awareness and connection, so that you can make more conscious choices and move forward from what no longer serves. My core training is integrative, which means using different approaches to fit your individual needs and circumstances.

 

I offer a down to earth, compassion focussed yet practical approach that is respectful of diversity and difference.  Our work will predominantly take place in the 'here and now' but we will also work with and consider how past experiences may have influenced and impacted on who you are today. 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​