Counselling

 

Why counselling and how does it work?

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Counselling works by providing a supportive, non-judgemental  space in which you can explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours and learn more about yourself.  I won't give advice but will 'walk alongside' you, reflecting back what I have heard, sometimes asking questions and helping you to find your own solutions.  I will go at your pace and focus on what you want to work on. Counselling works best when a helping relationship is formed in which you feel safe to open up and share and reflect on what you are experiencing or have experienced.  I will seek to provide that for you.

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I work as an Integrative Counsellor – my core training is in Person-Centred therapy integrated with Psychodynamic therapy.  I also have further training in Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT). 

Integrative Counselling means that I can draw on techniques from different types of therapy to tailor an approach to the individual.  I aim to develop a trusting, collaborative and non-judgmental relationship that helps you to develop self-awareness.

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Person-Centred therapy works on the belief that you are the expert on yourself and the counsellor is there to provide the necessary conditions, such as empathic understanding, to help you to come to terms with difficult feelings, and to change and develop in your own way.

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Psychodynamic therapy helps an individual to look at past experiences (including childhood relationships with parents and significant others) and feelings that are outside of awareness, to help look at how they may be impacting on current behaviour.

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CBT works by an individual looking more closely at their thoughts and behaviours in the here and now.  The way that we think about situations can affect how we feel and behave.  This therapy helps you to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts which in turn helps with difficult emotions and behaviours.  In CBT, techniques are learned and exercises are completed between sessions.