This section provides a basic insight into how the counselling / psychotherapy sessions are provided. If you have any further questions; please use the 'Contact Form' page on this web-site.
I will conduct a straightforward assessment of the issues that are important to you and of your needs. I will not tell you what you should be counselled upon. I will listen to you and we will work together to identify the key issues that are important for you.
If you have booked an individual session as a 'taster' session, it will be an opportunity for you to get to know me, to ask me questions and to consider whether or not I am the right Counsellor / Psychotherapist for you. Once completed, you may then choose to book further sessions.
Counselling / Psychotherapy will take place at your own natural pace but it can be useful to build in some 'milestones' to reach along the way. Don't worry if you feel unsure about what your aims or needs are; my role will be to help you to work that out.
As your Counsellor / Psychotherapist, my role is to help you explore your thoughts, feelings and emotions around the issues that are important to you. It is not my role to tell you what is right or wrong; my job is to help you find that answer. I will not judge you, for I am here to help you. I will use my skills and knowledge to guide you.
It is not for me to come up with the answers or to tell you what to do. I will be using my skills to help you identify your options, to help you find your answers and to help you decide upon a course of action. I will help you reflect over things and I will help you put things in perspective. I will not set your personal goals for you but I will help you to identify your own goals and I will support you towards achieving your goals.
The therapy provided will be an 'integrated' mixture of different therapies. This means that, unlike with some Counsellors / Psychotherapists, you will benefit from from my ability to draw upon the most appropriate therapeutic methods, from a variety of therapeutic disciplines, that will best meet your needs at the time.
Integrated approaches to counselling / psychotherapy are widely recognised as offering the most creative and appropriate support; for they do not limit the Counsellor / Psychotherapist to one style or method and they ensure that the Counsellor / Psychotherapist is well equipped to serve a wide variety of people, with a wide variety of needs.
As much as counselling / psychotherapy can be challenging, it can equally be enjoyable and rewarding. Unlike sometimes at home or at work, in sessions you will have the full attention of another person; your Counsellor / Psychotherapist. It can often be that with somebody who is impartial, who is not connected to our lives, we can talk the most openly, freely and honestly about ourselves and the experience of living our lives.
Each session will last for 50 minutes.
As you progress towards the completion of your course of sessions, I will work with you to ensure that you have a safe and satisfactory ending. This will involve reflecting over what has been achieved in previous sessions and considering whether there are any issues you may wish to explore in the future; either within further sessions or in your own personal time. These steps will ensure that you understand what you have learnt from the sessions and that you are clear about how you wish to move forward afterwards.
Some people will not want to come back to therapy, once they have completed a programme. For others, it can be useful to come back to therapy to either explore their progress or to explore a completely different issue. There is no right or wrong course of action. If you decide that further therapy will be of use after you have completed your programme, you will be most welcome to return for further sessions.
