Counselling – in person

What is it all about?

Counselling and Psychotherapy are services that allow you a safe and confidential environment in which you can discuss with a qualified professional any problems or difficulties you are experiencing. Counselling provides you with the opportunity to talk with someone who is outside of your usual day-to-day life and whose job is to listen and support you in a non-judgmental way.

While counselling can’t take away the struggles you may currently be experiencing in your life, it can give you the time and space to work through these issues. Counselling allows you to come to decisions or make the changes that work best for you.

There are many different styles of Counselling and Psychotherapy – often referred to as ‘talking therapies’ or just ‘therapy’ – and these terms are often used interchangeably to describe a variety of different professionals (we do appreciate this can be really confusing!).

There is no definitive difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy. However, some people would suggest that Psychotherapists have a greater? understanding of the more complex mental health problems and may work with clients over a longer term.

I personally hold both Counselling and Psychotherapy qualifications. I have worked in the mental health field for many years (you can read more about me HERE) and I am familiar with many common mental health problems. I therefore feel qualified, experienced and capable of working with many different clients and can work both short term (usually 6-12 sessions) and longer term (18+ sessions), depending on your need.

If you are looking for information specifically about therapy when you have an Eating Disorder click HERE.

Why might I access therapy?

You might choose to access Counselling / Therapy during or after a period of change in your life, at a particularly difficult time, or following a major life event. The intention is to help you make sense of things and move on in a way that is meaningful to you.

Alternatively, you might be living with a mental health illness such as Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or an Eating Disorder.

Some people access counselling / therapy simply because they value having a dedicated third party to talk to about the ups and downs of life.

Ultimately counselling is about you, your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and self-awareness.

People often express concerns about attending counselling; perhaps they see struggling and needing or wanting support as a sign of weakness. However, I think that seeking out support is a great sign of courage and maturity. With 1 in 4 people struggling with difficulties related to their mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), it is a growing concern and more people than ever are accessing talking therapies.

Below is a list of difficulties with which I may be able to support you:

Abuse, Addiction(s), Anxiety, Bereavement and loss, Bullying,

Confidence and self-esteem, coping with being a Carer,

Depression / Low mood, Eating Disorders (click), Gender Dysphoria,

Identity issues, Illness, Life changes, Panic Attacks, Self-Harm, Stress,

Traumatic experiences (both past and current)

This is by no means a complete list.

What is your approach to therapy / what do you do / are you the right therapist for me?

I completely appreciate that choosing a therapist, or even knowing what type of Counselling / Therapy you might be best suited to can be a daunting prospect.

I am personally trained as a Humanistic Integrative Counselling Therapist – if you are familiar with the ‘therapy world’ this might be really meaningful to you, but if not, the chances are it doesn’t mean anything to you (at all)!

Essentially, for me, working with this approach means that I acknowledge that everyone is unique and so what works for one client may not work for the next; different people need different things, at different times and I respect this.

Using a Humanistic integrative approach allows for me to be flexible in working together with you on whatever issue/s you may be bringing to therapy; exploring your experiences and needs and finding out what works for you rather than following a strict ‘one size fits all’ plan that is defined at the start of your therapy.

I also believe in psycho-education; which means providing you not only with support but also with information that might help you better understand the conditions that bring you to therapy (if this is appropriate).

If this sounds like it might be a helpful approach for you, we can book an initial session. If by the end of the first session you realise I might not be the right therapist for you, then I will not be offended and we do not have to continue.

I think I want to access this service – now what? What should I expect?

If you feel you are ready to arrange your first therapy session, or have some further questions about doing so, your first step is to send me an email including a some information about yourself and your reason/s for getting in touch. I can respond to your email or you can supply your phone number and a few “time windows” in which I might be able to call you in the next week.

If at this point you are happy to proceed we will find a date and time for your first session. I will send an ‘intake sheet’ for you to complete with your basic details.

At your first session we will review what working together will entail and explore how therapy might be of help to you. If at this point you choose to continue and book future sessions, these are usually on the same day and time each week (although I can offer some limited flexibility to suit your needs). However, as you progress you may find you want to attend less frequently.