Individual Counselling

Counselling is extra help with the way you are already coping with a problem, or help to find a way of coping. The aim is to enable you to lead a more satisfying and fulfilled life and to increase your ability to reflect and learn from your own experience and learn new skills.

It is about spending time in complete confidence with someone that you don't know personally but that you have a good relationship with, somewhere where you feel safe and not judged.

Counselling can help you look at the way you feel and think about something with the support of someone who tries to understand your point of view, but who also helps you see the other options that are available to you.

There are many types of 'Counselling' and the choice is a personal one: such as 'Psychotherapy' and Cognitive Therapy'. My own training is based upon what is known as 'Person Centred Counselling'. This assumes that all people want to be happy but sometimes the way we think and the things that happen to us affect this. Also that we know what is best for us but can't always see our answer. A counsellor does not give you these answers but helps you find your own that work best for you.

I also offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which helps you to look at your thinking or behaviour and find ways of changing what is unhelpful to you. This is useful for all types of problems, particularly depression, anxiety and panic attacks. A type of relaxation called mindfulness can also be of help here.

It can be extremely tiring keeping a problem bottled up and clients often feel a huge sense of relief to discuss how they feel with a trained professional.

I use a variety of approaches tailored to each individual and this is called 'Integrative'. I also teach skills and practical ways of dealing with situations.

Counselling can be short or longer term and whilst we discuss this the decision will always lie with you. 

Some people come to see a counsellor when they are at their lowest ebb, some suicidal. Others have something on their mind and wish to talk it over in confidence with someone impartial and where they can be assured of confidentilality.

People often tell me things they have never told anyone and this can be a huge relief to them. I use my experience and in-depth training to help them find a way to move forward in their lives.