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FAQ

 

Why would I want counselling or psychotherapy?

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Do you worry about being judged or think your problems are not ‘bad’ enough to involve someone else? Perhaps you can’t see how exploring your difficulties with another person can actually help.

You are not alone.

Many people are nervous about trying counselling or psychotherapy and it’s often the last thing they choose to help themselves. Yet often they wish they’d accessed support earlier and felt relief at sharing their troubles with a trusted professional.

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Why choose me?

 

For therapy to be effective it’s important to choose a therapist that you can connect with and build a trusting relationship with. Your therapist should also be prepared to work with you, supporting you through your experiences.

I have been described as being very down to earth, warm, understanding, ‘normal’, patient, and insightful. I feel it’s a privilege to be invited into your world and connect and understand your issues, so together we can find a way forward for you and enable you to improve your life and live it more fully.

 

In addition to this, it’s important that you work with a therapist / counsellor who is sufficiently qualified, has rounded experience and has done in-depth personal development on themselves continue to do as well as regular training and upskilling.

 

 

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
There is a lot of debate about this very question. Some people think that there is no difference between the two and that psychotherapy is just an old fashioned term. Others (including myself) believe that counselling is often more short-term work focusing on issues caused by unexpected external events in which clients need a safe space to process what has happened. Psychotherapy is often working on more deep-seated ways of being which have been and continue to be causing the client distress.

 

 

 

I’ve never had counselling/psychotherapy before – what can I expect?
Usually in the first session there is opportunity for you to get a feel for me and how I work, and to see if you feel that we would work well together. You can tell me as much or as little as you like about what is bringing you to seek counselling/therapy and we can discuss what support you need from me.

 

 

 

I encourage clients to only share what they feel comfortable sharing in this first session; there is no pressure to share anything that you’re not ready to say.
 

 

How will I benefit from therapy?

 

Everybody is different. Some people want to change their situation, while others need the space to make sense of an experience or just wish to find a way of feeling like themselves again.

The following are examples of changes I’ve seen in clients in my practice.

Clients have:

 

·        Been released from the traumas holding them back from realising their full potential.

 

·        Safely come of out fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses and patterns both in their body and mind.

 

·        Developed self-acceptance and self-care to improve their health and wellbeing.

 

·        Found new ways of coping with stressful situations.

 

·        Developed new ways of managing or completely reducing their anxiety or completely reducing their anxiety              levels so it’s no longer an issue.

 

·        Reduced their reliance on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication

 

·        Improved their relationship with partner/family member(s).

 

·        Learned to let go of co-dependant or toxic relationships

 

·        Obtained clarity about what they wanted from their career.

 

·        Created a better work/life balance.

 

·        Returned to work after a period of absence caused by stress.

 

·        Found ways of coping with a bereavement.

 

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I’ve been told that I need CBT - can you help with that?

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is typically offered by GPs on the NHS because it is a manualised cost-effective treatment which can be delivered in a short timeframe and is recommended by NICE guidelines for depression and anxiety. I don’t specifically offer CBT but given that I work holistically, cognitive and behavioural aspects are present in sessions anyway. CBT is often working with just the conscious mind where I know that to affect lasting change we need to work with the unconscious mind.

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