About Counselling

“I want to talk about everything with at least one person as I talk about things with myself.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1869

How do I work?

Counsellors can choose from a number of different approaches (or modalities) to train in, which inform the way they work with an individual. I chose to train as a psychodynamic counsellor because I believe it is a powerful tool to help people really start to understand who they are and feel comfortable in their own skin – why they behave the way they do and feel the way they do amongst other things.

This is done by listening to why you have come for counselling and why now. Exploring your early experiences and any memories you have, current and past relationships and specific events.

This can help you and I get a better understanding of what lies beneath the current problems you are facing. Patterns and ways of relating to others will start to emerge, hopefully giving you a better insight in to yourself which will enable you to feel less weighed down.

Counselling with me is open ended, which means there is no set end date. This may feel daunting, but it helps give time and space to really explore what is going on.

It is like a jigsaw puzzle – finding the right pieces will give us a clearer picture.

What can I offer?

To be by your side on this journey and help you start to answer some of the questions you ask yourself.

I will listen, really listen, to your story. How often in life do we get the space to talk uninterrupted without judgement or prejudice, free of opinions and reactions?

The therapeutic relationship is an essential part of making counselling work. I offer a warm, welcoming, private and protected space where I will be present and consistent. Where I can start to recognise and understand your feelings, help you express what you find difficult and build up your sense of trust and safety in the relationship.

Sessions are 50 minutes long and are offered on a weekly basis at the same day and time each week. This helps to create a sense of consistency, predictability and certainty which can feel soothing when life is hard.

What can I help with?

People come to counselling for many reasons and the way that I work means I can help with various issues. However many clients come from a place of loss or a sense of loss, this could be triggered by a single event or getting to a point where they simply don’t want to feel like they do anymore and need some help navigating a difficult period in their life.

Examples might be:

Living with general feeling of anxiety or depression, not being able to remember a time when you didn’t feel this way.
Difficulties in or loss of relationships – romantic, friendships, parental or work.
A loss of a sense of self – not really knowing who you are, perhaps feeling a bit lost in life.
Bereavement/loss/estrangement
Abuse – child abuse, domestic abuse, bullying
Challenges within the family/friendships such as a loved one going through a hard time that you need help with too.
Stages of life – transitionary periods in life such as teens to 20’s or retirement.
Parenting – becoming one, being one, past parenting, struggling as a parent
Neurodiversity- navigating a new diagnosis or going through/waiting for the process of diagnosis.

Particular interest areas are:

Parent/and adult child relationships – challenging relationships with parent or adult child. Estrangement, enmeshment.
Young adult (18-25)
Perinatal period – thinking about starting a family /planning a family /IVF/postnatal (postnatal depression) and ongoing parenting.
Parents facing challenges with their young children – this may be behavioural, special educational needs or additional needs/disabilities and the impact this can have on the parent/carer and wider family.
Neurodiversity – diagnosed ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, OCD or awaiting for or thinking about diagnosis

Initial consultation – choosing to work together.

Once you have made an enquiry I will arrange an initial 15 minutes chat to make sure we are happy to work together. This can also be useful in helping us understand if I am the right person to help, if I believe that I am not then I will always try to refer you on to someone who is better suited to your needs. It will also give you a chance to ask me any questions you might have and think about whether I am the right person for you.

The BACP

I am a registered member of the BACP which means I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Profession and it’s commitment to clients, ethics and good practice.

This also means that I attend regular supervision and commit to ongoing CPD.

GDPR

I am registered with the Office of the Information Commissioner which means I abide by the GDPR regulations for handling and storing confidential information.

Ready?

Click on this link to read Contact Me which will have more information about next steps.