Counselling is an umbrella term for talking therapies where you are provided with a safe and supportive environment in which to explore problems you are experiencing. You may come to counselling to work on a specific problem, to help resolve conflicts or challenges in your life, to better understand vague dissatisfactions of wanting more out of life or simply to gain greater confidence.

Counselling can help overcome the feelings of embarrassment and fear which can sometimes make it difficult to talk to friends and family. Counselling can also help you to look at problems from a different perspective, identifying strengths that have helped you thus far, and equip you with the strategies and skills to work through problems.

The relationship between you and your counsellor is one of the most important factors in the effectiveness of counselling. As someone who is trained to listen carefully to your concerns, I offer clarity,

sensitivity, warmth and humour, valuing each person’s humanity and ability to determine their own life. My aim is to help you develop an understanding of yourself and others, providing you with the support to work on the challenges you are facing - facilitating positive change.

• What does a Counselling Session look like in practise?
  
  

Counselling can be short or long term. At your first meeting, I will explain factors like the length of the session (50 mins), the reasons for regular weekly sessions (providing a space in which to work consistently) and the cancellation policy (full fee payable with less than 48 hours notice). The counselling I offer provides a safe place for you to let me know what’s happening at the moment, where you would like to be in your life and what has prevented you getting there up until now.

During the counselling we may also reflect upon the impact of your history, your hopes and dreams of the future and explore how you can live to your full potential.

In some circumstances you may also be set work to do or things to think about outside of therapy so that progress is continuing after the counselling session is finished.

Counselling is a very personal process and it is important to acknowledge that there may be times during your therapy where painful feelings and difficult decisions arise. However, whatever you say in the counselling session is confidential with the

exception of legal and ethical considerations. That is, information sought through a court subpoena or clients’ actions pose a serious threat to themselves or others.

• What issues or concerns are suited to Counselling?
  
  

Counselling can help you deal with a range of issues, from day to day worries to more long-term concerns. A range of issues include:

Depression - Anxiety - Relationship Difficulties - Family Problems

Anger - Sexual Abuse - Trauma - Improving Self-Esteem

Work Related Stress - Grief Separation & Loss

Life Transitions and Choices - Personal Growth and Self Development