Counselling Explained
If this is your first time looking for a counsellor then it may be helpful to read through this whole page.
If not please navigate to the relevant section using the links below.
What Is Counselling?
Firstly, I think It’s helpful to understand some definitions:
In psychological terms, the words counselling and therapy are often taken to mean the same thing
Therapy is defined as the treatment of a physical or psychological issue or distress
Underneath this wider umbrella of therapeutic treatments we find talking therapies (& also creative therapies)
Counselling is defined as a form of talking therapy
Simply put; counselling is a confidential process that people often seek when they are experiencing some kind of difficulty in life that they are unable to deal with alone. It works with both current or past events
It is a powerful process that has the potential to achieve personal growth, healing and change
It can be a space for you to offload, declutter and untangle
It can also be a way of gaining a clearer knowledge and understanding of ourselves and how we relate to the world around us
It is an environment where you will be treated with respect compassion and warmth
It is a place where you can feel safe & secure to fully express yourself and also to explore your thoughts, feelings & experiences
It is somewhere you can have the experience of being valued, truly heard and understood
“Knowing Ones Self Comes From Attending With Compassionate Curiosity To What Is Happening Within”
How Can Counselling Help?
Life can sometimes feel hard for us. It can be unpredictable and we can find ourself in a situation or with a problem that we have no idea how to tackle.
Modern society is fast paced and competitive. For many people, operating on a daily basis can seem confusing or unclear and the experience of the outside world can easily be perceived as brutal, unaccepting and impossible.
A large part of how we humans operate is driven by our emotions and there is no definitive one-size-fits-all rulebook of how to manage or process them.
People regularly tell me they don’t feel like they ‘fit in’ or that they don’t ‘fit the mould’ that in some way feels expected of them.
Anxiety, depression, fear and panic have been widespread in our society in recent years, yet with little advice or help offered to the public as to how to process or manage these difficult emotions.
It can be difficult to navigate yourself in this environment, sometimes even finding the right direction to aim in can seem almost impossible.
It is my experience that therapy works.
I believe it is an individual and personally unique journey.
It can help by:
Teaching you to understand and manage yourself and your emotions more effectively
Giving you space to untangle your mind, free your thoughts & find clearer ways to manage your difficulties
Exploring how you are affected by current obstacles or past events
Helping you to unlock both the power to face your fears and the strength to overcome your challenges
Assisting you in the letting go of things that you feel are holding you back
Supporting you to process trauma and painful experiences
Showing you how to heal your wounds, to grow as a person and discover who you truly are
“Your Visions Will Become Clear Only When You Can Look Into Your Own Heart. Who Looks Outside, Dreams; Who Looks Inside, Awakes”
QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT!
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNSELLING OR MENTAL HEALTH?
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How Counselling Works
Counselling is not about a therapist giving you any kind of advice or solving your problems for you. It takes effort from both sides for the process to be effective.
You may find it helpful to think of counselling as an analogy; consider that your life is a journey on a continuous path, and your therapist is going to join and walk the path side-by-side with you for a while.
They won’t lead or direct you at all - it’s your path & the directions you take are your choice. However, your therapist will be there to listen to, discuss with and support you in the choices you make.
Counselling works by client & therapist working together to co-create a working relationship which exists within agreed boundaries (eg. at a certain time and place, for a certain duration).
It is a valuable working relationship that is built on mutual trust, respect and open, honest communication.
A counselling relationship is best described as a professional friendship. One where you are listened to, valued, supported and held through a process of personal change and growth by someone who is not involved in any other part of your life.
It is a place where any kind of problems and difficulties can be freely discussed in confidence and without judgement.
It is through these discussions that ways of moving forward and approaching issues may be found.
At times, the therapist may suggest certain methods or techniques which are best suited for working with whatever the client’s needs are.
A therapeutic relationship can help to increase your self-awareness and has the potential to achieve personal growth & change.
I am an integrative therapist, meaning that I have arrived at my own model of working after studying & training in several different modalities (or schools) of counselling and psychotherapy.
These include: Humanistic Therapy, Client-centred Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt Psychotherapy, Jungian Psychotherapy, Creative Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
My Counselling Process- How I Work
My model of working is built on a core foundation of client-centred, humanistic values and principals, meaning that I do not view myself as the expert on you and your life (which is logically impossible!); rather that you are the expert on your own self and your experience.
This also means that I work at your pace and with whatever you feel comfortable to bring into each session.
One of my central core beliefs is that each and every person is a unique individual with the potential to grow & change. This belief combined with my integrative training means my approach to counselling is not limited to one single school of thought and my focus is therefore always on the best techniques and practices for each individual client’s needs.
Creativity is also integrated into my model, in the sense that my personal approach to working with clients is informed by my own creative process as I prefer to be “in the moment” with each client and allow each sessions to flow around whatever you wish to bring and the inspiration we find together.
I have experience in supporting clients through a wide range of mental health issues such as;
Emotional issues - Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Shame & more
Unclear or ‘muddled’ Thinking
Neurodiversity - ADHD, OCD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc.
Personal Development
Behavioural Issues
Trauma
Relationship Issues
Emotional Disturbances/Breakdowns
Self-Identity
Sexual Issues
Existential & Life Crises
Spiritual Awakenings
Creative Blocks and much more!