Counselling / Talking Therapy

Clients often come to therapy because they are feeling confused and overwhelmed by their experiences in lifewhich may have created them problems that they can feel difficult to manage in present times.

As an Integrative Therapist I will help you, my client, to make sense of what has happened to you in your past and what is happening to you now. To help you to gain understanding and insight into how to overcome your difficulties. To give you a sense of empowerment. To help you with your personal development and to see you emotionally grow to make changes in your own life.

My approach is emotionally warm, friendly and nurturing. I work in a collaborative, non-judgemental and supportive way with you, my client. I seek to purposefully select a therapy, or therapies, which best suits you individually.  This will be based on your situation, beliefs, values and personal change. 

My Therapeutic Principles for Counselling / Talking Therapy:

My therapeutic approach is evidence based on what therapies have worked for different problems and issues. The main integrative therapies I will often use are:

Principle 1: The Humanistic Approach

Building up a Therapeutic Relationship between client and counsellor using the Core Conditions of Congruency, Empathy and Unconditional Positive Regard. Using a Person Centred Therapy.

Principle 2: The Psychoanalysis Approach

Exploring the thoughts, feelings and behaviours with clients to discover whether there is a pattern of relating from the past to the present. Using Psychodynamic Therapy, Attachment Therapy, Object-Relations and Gestallt Therapy.

Principle 3: The Cognitive and Behaviour Approach

Looking at the client’s behavioural patterns and cognitive schemas they developed in the past, been reinforced in the present and how they can be changed for the future. Using CBT and DBT Therapies.

My Approach to Counselling / Talking Therapy:

My approach to therapy is based on you, my client's, understanding of your own issues and world. It provides a way for looking at your story, listening to your distress, and making a space to be heard. This is created by looking at and asking you, my client questions such as:

Past Issues:

• What has happened to me? Looking at patterns to see whether emotions from past issues are now influencing your present.
• What “unfinished business” (if any) needs to be processed using a variety of techniques from the therapy toolbox.

Current Issues:

• What is going on for me?
• What are the key issues for you at the moment?
• What is the most important or easiest issue to work on first?

Positives:

• What supports me? Positives in your life, including your own strengths and support from other people and things around me.

Negative & Triggers:

• What sets things off?
• What was happening when your current difficulties started?
• Things that keep your difficulties going and make change difficult.
• What keeps things stuck?

Thinking about the next steps to help you, as my client to build your emotional maturity to help re-parent yourself and to create plans for wellbeing and setting GROW goals.

As your Counsellor / Talking Therapist I will not provide you with opinions or advice or prescribe medication. We will work together to help you to find your own solutions in terms of finding ways of coping with your problems or looking at how you can make effective changes in your life.

What happens in your first counselling session

Counselling / Talking Therapy normally takes place within planned regular sessions and can last up to 50 minutes. Sessions can be arranged on the basis of one to one sessions (on your own), as a couple or family. They can be offered face to face in the counselling room or via online or telephone calls. By working together we will agree how often you have your sessions and how many appointments you may need depending on your own individual circumstances.

During your session, I can show you specific techniques which are designed to assist with your individual issues, or we may just have more general discussions about how you are feeling. We can talk about whatever you need help with, and I have a selection of different therapies and techniques to help you with such issues as:

• Your childhood
• Your relationships
• Your past and present life events
• Situations you find difficult
• Your feelings, emotions or thoughts
• Your behaviours

I will offer you impartiality and understanding. I will listen to you without judgement and help you to explore thoughts and emotions. I may from time to time offer you information but I will never tell you what you should think or do.

During your first session with me we will cover such things as the following:

I will spend a few moments introducing myself and explaining how I will work with you. If you need any reassurance on my qualifications, my therapy or anything you are unsure about I will be happy to answer any questions. I will ensure that you are comfortable where you would like to sit and how you would like to be addressed e.g. Mrs or first names.

Being able to tell your story of what has happened to you and what is troubling you is the most important start we will make together in your session. I will ask you to complete an assessment form which will cover such details as your name, any mental health issues you may have, your GPs, Psychiatrist, CMHT details.  The reason I need these details is because if you wish to use such techniques as Hypnotherapy or EMDR we may have to contact your GP or Psychiatrist/Psychologist (with your permission) to obtain their permission. 

I use a counselling contract which is normally sent through to yourself beforehand which outlines how we will provide our services. We can go through the contract during your first session to allow you to ask any questions on anything that you may need some clarification on. We will then sign the printed counselling contract within the first session. We will also cover such things as confidentiality.

It is so important for you to feel comfortable with me and how I work with you during the first session and if you feel that we are not building a rapport together or don’t feel safe then I will not feel offended if you feel that you would like another counsellor / therapist to work with. I will try my upmost to help you through any difficulties you are feeling as I know that coming into counselling is not always an easy decision and you have taken a big step towards changing your life and “Learn to heal and re-parent inner past traumas to help release and embrace your true authentic self”

How to get the most out of your therapy with me

One of the most important ways to get the best results from your counselling session / therapy with me is to allow yourself to be open and honest and say exactly how you are feeling, this is your session and your space.  My relationship with you as your counsellor / therapist is very important. By feeling safe and secure with me this will allow you to take a risk and may allow you to disclose any sensitive issues that you may not have said before to me. It is also important for you to be honest with me on how we are working together and how you feel your therapy is going.

Therefore Counselling / Talking Therapy can help you:

• Cope with a bereavement or relationship breakdown
• Cope with work related stress or redundancy
• Explore sexuality and gender identity issues
• Explore what is preventing you achieving your ambitions
• Explore your feelings of sadness and loss of positive outlook
• Worry less about things by exploring your feelings of anxiety
• Understand yourself and your problems better
• To feel more confident and build your inner self-esteem
• Explore and develop understanding of other people's perspectives
• Explore blocked anger from what has happened to you

Counselling / Talking Therapy is useful for individuals who have a variety of mental health conditions such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Obsessive Compulsion Disorder (OCD)
• Long-Term Illnesses
• Eating Disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia
• Drug and Alcohol Misuse
• Stress Management