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.  Working through that could be the work and then we would end and possibly never meet each other again.  Others start like that but can find a few months or years down the line, they need a little bit more understanding or something else pops up.  There is no definitive plan that we work to but tailor it to suit what it going on for you.  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 people if you want to.  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 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, art therapy and psychodynamic, that may resolve the difficulty by using alternative methods.  These methods may involve doing some artwork or a visualisation.  I suggest these ways but if you don't feel comfortable then I won't force it on you. 

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.

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.