Counselling
Sometimes you may know exactly what has brought you to counselling, At other times it can be harder to explain - you may simply know that something doesn't feel right.
You might be feeling anxious, overwhelmed or low, struggling with a loss or relationship, adjusting to changes in your health, work or family life, or questioning who you are and where you go from here.
Whatever has brought you here, counselling offers you time and space to explore what is happening, understand yourself and your experiences more deeply, and consider what moving forward might look like for you.
What brings people to counselling?
People come to counselling for many different reasons. Sometimes something specific has happened; sometimes difficulties have built gradually over time.
You may be experiencing anxiety or low mood, coping with bereavement or another kind of loss, struggling within a relationship, feeling overwhelmed by work or caring responsibilities or adjusting to changes in your health or circumstances.
Change can also affect how we see ourselves, Losing a relationship, changes in health, children leaving home, redundancy, retirement or simply reaching a different stage of life can leave us questioning our identity and the future we had imagined.
And sometimes life looks perfectly fine from the outside, but inside you know your struggling.
You don't need to find the right label before coming to counselling, We can begin with whatever is happening for you.
How I work?
My approach is humanistic and integrative, which means that our work begins with you rather than following a fixed programme or expecting you to fit a particular way of working. At the heart of my approach is person-centred counselling providing a relationship in which you can feel heard, understood and accepting without judgement. I can also draw on ideas and techniques from approaches including CBT and solution -focused therapy where these may be helpful. For example, we might explore patterns in your thoughts and behaviours, look at different ways of responding to difficult situations or recognise strengths and resources that you already have. We work together, at your pace, focusing on what feels important to you.
What might counselling with me feel like?
I know that talking to someone you don't know about personal or difficult experiences can feel daunting.
You won't be expected to tell me everything in your first session, and there is no pressure to talk about something before you feel ready.
Some sessions may involve exploring difficult experiences or emotions. Others might involve making connections, understanding yourself differently, recognising patterns or simply having somewhere to say things you haven't felt able to say elsewhere.
Most importantly, I hope our sessions feel like somewhere you can be yourself - without needing to perform, please anyone or have all the answers.
Counselling that fits around you
online and by telephone
I currently offer counselling to adults online and by telephone, allowing you to access support from your own space without needing to travel.
Online counselling
We meet by secure video call. You can see and talk with me much as you would if we were sitting together in a counselling room, but from somewhere private and comfortable for you
Telephone counselling
If you'd prefer not to be on camera, we can work by telephone instead. Some people find it easier to talk being on screen and value the simplicity and privacy that telephone counselling can provide
If you'd prefer not to be on camera, we can work by telephone instead. Some people find it easier to talk being on screen and value the simplicity and privacy that telephone counselling can provide
Counselling can be short-term, focused around something particular or continue for longer if you would like more time to explore what is happening to you.
We can decide together what feels right rather than committing to a set number of sessions from the beginning
Taking the first step
Choosing a counsellor is personal; qualifications and experience matter, but so does whether you feel comfortable talking to the person sitting opposite you - even when that happens through a screen or telephone
That's why I offer a free 15-minute introductory phone call.
It's simply an opportunity for you to tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions you may have and get a sense of what it feels like talking with me
There is no obligation to book a counselling session afterwards.
If we decide to work together, our first counselling session gives us more time to explore what has been happening and what you would like from counselling.
You don't need to prepare anything.