Counselling is an opportunity to work through your problems and issues with someone who is professionally trained in active listening and in creating a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment. This space can help you to clarify, understand, process and resolve problems and issues which are troubling you.

The purpose of therapy is not to give you advice, but rather to bring greater awareness to understand your internal and external experience. Enabling a deeper understanding of how unresolved issues from the past may continue to impact on the present and therefore highlight the potential for change in the future. This can help you feel more empowered, more aware of yourself and your available choices.

Psychotherapy is all of the above, but tends to work at a deeper emotional or relational level. It works to heal inner unresolved conflicts or deeper emotional or psychological issues within yourself.

Why choose counselling?
We all, at some time in our lives, experience distressing events, difficult feelings or relationship issues. There are many different reasons why people choose to come to counselling. You may be experiencing grief or loss, feeling alone, swamped by responsibilities, overwhelmed with life changes, difficulties in relationships or struggling with anxiety or depression. It is at these times that talking to a trained counsellor can help.

I am an advocate of counselling and psychotherapy and believe in its value. I have seen again and again how people have benefited from counselling. Their quality of life has been enriched by re-connecting with their strengths, discovering and expressing their authentic, true self rather than the self they think they need to put forward for other people’s approval.

What happens in a therapy session?
Our first session together is an opportunity for us to meet each other and get a sense of what it might be like for us to work together and for you to decide if counselling can offer what you are looking for. It’s a chance for you to find out more about the therapy process, to discuss what you hope to achieve and look at any concerns you may have.

In further sessions you may gain new and useful insights, discover new ways of thinking or feeling about your life experiences or relationships, experiment with new behaviours or learn new strategies to help you cope better with the challenges you face.

How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions needed depends on the individual in relation to the nature and longevity of the difficulties they are experiencing. Some people may want to focus on a specific, relatively short lived problem, where a few sessions may be enough. However for some, the issue may be more deep-rooted and complex and long term counselling may be beneficial.

Most people find it helpful to book regular weekly appointments as this enables us to maintain momentum and develop trust. Ideally this would be on the same time and day, although I appreciate flexibility may be needed around work and family commitments.

I offer the choice of face to face therapy, video or telephone sessions.

Individual sessions are for 50 minutes

If you are interested in working with me we can arrange to meet for a free 30 minute consultation.