Counselling

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Therapeutic Counselling

Therapeutic counselling, commonly known as therapy, is the process of discussing and working through personal issues that impact you emotionally.

My approach to therapy is rooted in 'humanistic counselling'. You, as an individual with your unique personal story, will be at the core of each session. This supportive and therapeutic method emphasizes your personal growth and development while enhancing your understanding of yourself. My practice is deeply influenced by Carl Rogers' person-centred theory, and I incorporate concepts from various humanistic modalities, including transactional analysis, gestalt, and solution-focused therapy, tailored to your specific needs.

I also embrace creativity in my approach, thinking outside the box, and utilizing metaphors, objects, toys, and drawing or diagrams to aid our discussions.

You are encouraged to speak freely about whatever you wish to discuss. I will be right there with you, listening to everything you share and providing a safe space for you to process your emotions.

As an experienced counsellor, you can trust that I am willing to explore deep topics with you if that is your desire. You will have the opportunity to express yourself openly, without any judgment or analysis from me. You can truly 'go there', wherever that may lead you, as long as you feel comfortable doing so.

If you are new to counselling, it is completely normal to feel apprehensive about sharing your deepest feelings and secrets with someone who is essentially a stranger. I want to reassure you that I will never pressure you to discuss anything you are not ready to share. I will follow your lead, as the initial sessions are crucial for building a strong therapeutic relationship.

Together, we will get to know each other, fostering trust and understanding as we work towards helping you reach a place you aspire to be.

Even if you have experienced counselling before, your journey with me may feel very different. Each counsellor has their unique style, and one of the most critical elements of successful counselling is finding the right match for you. As in life, if you don't connect with someone, it's challenging to open up to them.

Finding a counsellor you can trust is essential.

Counselling FAQ

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Is Counselling for me?

Counselling is for anyone who wants to come along and address something that is affecting them in some way. You don't have to be in the depths of depression or have suffered any major trauma in your life to seek counselling. A genuine desire for personal growth and moving forward in your life is enough. This aligns with Carl Rogers' theory of humanistic counselling, which emphasizes the importance of self-actualization and personal development.

Often, people say they feel as though someone else deserves their session more than they do. This is absolutely not the case. You are just as entitled to come along as anyone else, and I will never judge you for whatever you wish to talk about. I currently offer counselling for anyone from the age of 16 years old and beyond.

Some of the reasons you may be considering counselling include:

- Unfulfilled potential

- Lack of meaning or direction in life

- Work-related stress

- Depression

- Rape (recent or historical)

- Abuse

- Domestic violence

- Low self-esteem

- Lack of confidence

- Childhood issues

- Sexuality issues/confusion

- Self-harm

- Trauma/PTSD

- Shame

- Guilt

- Worry

- Stress

- Anxiety

- Anger

- Fear

- Loss

- Bereavement

- Change in circumstances

- Life transitions

- Identity issues

- PMS, PMDD

- Perimenopause, menopause

Although it is up to you to decide on the frequency of sessions, I would strongly suggest you have at least 4-6 sessions weekly initially. This helps to establish a good therapeutic working relationship, allowing you to get the most out of the therapy, in line with the humanistic counselling approach. After this, you may choose to continue weekly or adjust to fortnightly, monthly, or just as and when you need a ‘check in’.

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Benefits of counselling

Here are just some of the potential benefits that counselling, grounded in Carl Rogers' theory of humanistic counselling, can provide:

- Improved self-esteem & confidence

- Self-acceptance

- Increased control of your life

- Come to terms with the past

- Improved assertiveness

- A sense of empowerment

- Clarity of issues

- Better expression and management of your emotions

- See things more objectively

- Change self-defeating behaviour

- Relief from depression

- Understand and manage stress

- Resolution of problems

- Increased self-awareness

- Less fearful

- More able to 'let go' of things that are holding you back

Some of the benefits that my past clients have found helpful have been described as being able to:

"put the jigsaw pieces together and make more sense of your life and myself"

"have a look inside that box that's been locked away for so long"

"unravel that big, knotted ball of wool"

"pick out all of the beans from the tin of baked beans in tomato sauce, because I like the beans and I don't like the sauce!"

As your counsellor, I promise that you will be fully accepted for who you are and what you say, reflecting the principles of humanistic counselling. I will provide you with a supportive, non-judgemental setting in which to explore any issue you need. You will be able to express your feelings openly with me, and I will be respectful at all times. Your wellbeing and personal growth are my priority.

You may decide to come along for a check-in even after a year or two has passed, because that's what you might need, and that's ok! Life happens! We can discuss whatever it is you feel you need at any time.

My door is always open, so to speak. I offer this so that you will never be limited, nor ever have to ‘start all over again’ with anyone else. In contrast, you are never under any obligation to stay or continue. You must always do what is right for you.

Online counselling option

Just like in-person sessions, the benefits of therapy online can be equally as therapeutically rich, if not moreso.

Counselling online is provided in the same respectful and professional manner as face to face sessions. Get in touch if you'd like to try a session.

Online counselling by video is exactly the same as the counselling you would receive in-person, only we will meet via video-link online. I use Google Meet. It is one of the most secure platforms due to it's encryption method, and so easy to use. All online sessions are private and secure, with a new and unique meeting code generated for every single session which only you and me will have. I simply email you the link on the morning of your appointment and all you have to do is click to connect.

Online counselling is simply an alternative way of accessing counselling. It's the ideal option if you don't live nearby, or you can't make it to a session due to a car issue or physical mobility issue for example. Going online makes therapy possible for more people, more of the time, wherever they are.

I hold an advanced certificate in online and telephone counselling, therefore you can feel reassured that I will be providing you with a safe online experience of counselling.

Telephone counselling option

This surprisingly intimate method of counselling may be the preferred choice for some people. It can provide a unique therapeutic space for counselling to take place. It may be that you are having difficulty with internet connection, or just prefer not to be seen, for example.

It may be that you start off with telephone counselling, if you feel anxious about being seen, and perhaps we can move towards online sessions over time.

If you're unsure about any aspect of counselling, either online or telephone, I would be happy to talk to you about it and help you get set up if necessary, either technical or non-technical!

Frequently asked questions about counselling

● Do I need to do anything before my first session?

If we are meeting in-person you don't need to do anything else in advance of your first session. Just come as you are and I will take you as I find you. It is natural to feel apprehensive before your first session, I remember my first therapy session! You will be very welcome.

If you are having online or phone sessions, I will send you a counselling agreement form to read and complete before your first session.

● What will happen in my first session?

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other. It will last 50-60 minutes. You can tell me about what it was that made you decide to come for counselling and we will discuss how counselling may help you.

There is no right or wrong way to 'do' it. Everyone has different needs, and the first session will help give us both an idea of what yours are.

If you are having an online or phone session, I would suggest you find a safe, private place to talk, where you cannot be overheard. The less interruption and distraction there is for you, the more you are likely to benefit from the session.

● How many sessions will I need?

It really depends on what it is you would like to achieve through counselling. People attend counselling for varying lengths of time, from 6-8 weeks to many months and longer.

I would strongly urge you commit to at least 4 sessions initially, as it is possible you may feel slightly worse before you feel better as various things come to the surface for you. It is important not to stop attending in those initial sessions if you want to be able to work through things.

We will discuss the amount of sessions you might have at your first session and have regular reviews if therapy proceeds past 6 weeks.

● Do you offer advice?

No. Offering advice is not something I do. The discussions we have during counselling sessions will be aimed at helping you understand what is going on for you as an individual and to look at what might be best for you in your current circumstances. You will be encouraged to look at the different options you have, and together we work through them to find the right one for you.

If I were to offer advice it would only be my opinion, and it may not be right for you.

● Will you give me homework between sessions?

No! All of what we do takes place during your counselling sessions. You may think about things yourself in between sessions, and you may choose to do your own research or homework, but I will not set you any specific tasks.

● Can we message in between sessions?

Messaging or emailing in between sessions is only for things such as scheduling, or practical matters such as you letting me know if you are running late for example. In general, it is best to wait until your next session to discuss anything else. If you have something you feel you can't wait to talk about, it might be an idea to write it down and bring it with you to your scheduled session.

However, if you really feel it is important to let me know something in advance of your next session, then of course you can let me know. I will read it in full, but please bear in mind, however, that I may not be able to reply in full, although I will do my best to acknowledge receiving it.

If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please do not contact me in the first instance.

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● Can I bring someone with me?

The counselling agreement is just between you and me, therefore I would ask that you attend the session without anyone else present.

Counselling is about you and your experiences. It is a space for you be yourself. Whilst those close to you may care about you very much, when you are around them you may, without realising it, alter the way you say things. Having someone else with you during a session can be counter-productive.

If you really feel you need to bring someone along, for example if you were feeling nervous about your first session, then I would suggest they can be part of your session for the first 5-10 minutes while you settle in and become comfortable. However, therapy won't begin until after they have left.

If you feel unable to attend a session alone, I would be happy to discuss with you whether or not this was the right thing for you at this time.

● How do online and phone sessions work?

For online video sessions, I suggest Google Meet as this is a safe, secure and private platform. You can connect on a pc, laptop or smartphone. I will simply send you a meeting link by email on the morning of your appointment which you simply click at the time of your scheduled session to connect.

If you prefer to use a different platform to Google Meet, I'd be open to using a different one if you'd prefer it, just mention it beforehand.

If you'd prefer not to talk using video, there is always the option of having a telephone session. Comments have been positive about telephone sessions, they can be a very personal experience, with the focus being entirely on the therapeutic conversation.

You can have sessions with video or without, and you may decide to change from one to the other at any time and for any reason.

● Why should I choose you as my counsellor?

I will accept you NO MATTER WHAT you tell me. I will never judge you regardless of any differences between us. I encourage you to be as open and honest about your feelings and circumstances as you feel you can be so that we can work together to help get you to wherever it is you would like to be.

Research has shown that the most successful results gained from counselling happen when a there is trust between a client and counsellor. The more honest you can be with me about what you are thinking, feeling and going through, the more you will gain from counselling. It is for this reason I feel it is important that as an established and experienced counsellor, you know you can trust me and be honest with me without any fear of judgement or analysis.

● Do you offer counselling for children under 16 years old?

No. I have experience working as a children's counsellor in schools and colleges, and privately. However, this is not the focus of my work at this moment in time. If you are looking for counselling for children, I would be happy to offer you recommendations.

● Are sessions confidential?

The content of your sessions will remain confidential, yes, and whatever you tell me will be treated without judgement and with great respect. I will never share your personal information.
There are some exceptions to this confidentiality, which I will explain in our first meeting.

● When are you available and how do I book?

I'm available for daytime appointments from Monday to Thursday.

My availability changes on a daily basis! I will endeavour to see you as soon as possible.

Simply contact me and let me know when you are available for an appointment (the more options you give me the better) and I'll be back in touch to offer you a date and time that suits us both. If I'm available straight away I'll see you straight away! I'm currently available during daytime hours.