Counselling can help us to understand our problems and ourselves so that we can make positive changes in our lives.

Deciding to have counselling can be a big decision and if you are looking at this page, you are already thinking about it.  I offer a safe, confidential space in which you can explore, understand, offload, just be listened to without being judged.  I will be with you helping you to make sense of what is troubling you and together, we can decide what we do about it.  For some people, just understanding what it is can feel enough and for others, it provokes questions of why? how? when? which we can delve into.

Everyone's discovery is different.  For some people there can be a sudden change in their lives which throws up a behaviour or feeling which they are struggling with and others it can be a life line shouldering of something which eventually becomes too much to bear. 

How long 'should' counselling take?  Well I would say that I encourage people to think of a minimum of 6 weeks to get something shifted.  If I could do it in one session, believe me I would......... but no-one is that good!!

I would encourage you to visit a couple of therapists.  Get a feel for who 'fits' with you as you need to feel comfortable talking about difficult things you may not have told your nearest and dearest before.  Saying it out loud for the first time can make you feel very vulnerable and you want to feel well supported through that time.  Look for counsellors who are a member of BACP, UKCP or NCS as a minimum.  Being a 'counsellor' isn't a protected job title so some people can do a 3 week correspondence course or no training at all and call themselves one.  Being on a national professional registered means that we have done a minimum 3 years of training at degree level, have continual professional development, regularly audited, adhere to professional code of ethics and have supervision of our work.  

Some people talk about 'getting therapy', 'counselling'. 'seeing a psychotherapists' and you may wonder if there is a difference.

Counselling and Psychotherapy are more similar than they may be different and 'therapy' probably covers both.  I offer a counselling service.  It is a talking therapy.  My training is in Integrative Counselling which means my basic approach is Person Centred and that I have done training in lots of approaches which I can use to match individuals during our work.  If we are stuck on an issue, I can offer various approaches which include CBT, some form of art therapy and psychodynamic methods, that may resolve the difficulty by using alternative methods.  

Generally people will feel an improvement in their relationships, feel more confident and be able to take more risks in their personal lives to achieve their goals with the help of counselling. 

Counselling is often called a 'talking therapy' and during the sessions I will listen accurately to your concerns in a supporting, accepting and non-judgemental way.  We can set a focus for the work for a short term contract and speficially look at a limited issue in your life.  Alternatively, some clients bring a particular concern and then wish to look at the wider picture.  I can offer support while you chose your path and during our work we will regularly review where we are on that path.

My practice is discreet and located in an easy to find location in Chilcompton.  I have clients from Wells, Glastonbury, Westbury, Frome, Bath, Chew Valley area as well as more locally from Radstock and Midsomer Norton locality.

You can call me on 07531 555 878 for an appointment.  If I can't get to the phone, I will call you back as soon as I can.