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.  

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At the heart of my approach is working in a person-centred way which 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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I may also draw on psychodynamic theory where past experiences can be explored and their impact on current behaviour and/or CBT techniques where unhelpful thoughts can be challenged, which in turn helps with difficult emotions and behaviours.

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