Frequently asked questions in counselling

 A therapeutic hour lasts 50 minutes. 

 Only you can decide whether you want to try counselling, but if you are struggling to cope and are finding day-to-day life difficult, you may benefit from professional help. Just talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference. Counselling provides a regular time for you to explore your feelings and talk about any problems you're experiencing. A counsellor can help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to move forward and get the most out of life. 

 Are you...

• Experiencing difficult emotions that are interfering with your daily life, such as anxiety, depression, or anger.
• Having trouble coping with a difficult life event, such as a job loss, a relationship breakup, or a medical diagnosis.
• Have unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, self-harm, or compulsive behaviours.
• Having thoughts of harming yourself or others.
• Feeling isolated or alone.
• Having trouble making decisions or feeling like you have no control over your life.
• Struggling in your relationships.
• Not sure who you are or what you want out of life.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is important to reach out for help. Counselling can provide you with a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings, and to develop coping skills and strategies for living a healthier life.

 Humanistic integrative counsellors believe that the therapeutic relationship is essential to the healing process, and they strive to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. 

 Hopefully after your initial free consultation, we will have got to know each other a bit better and some of those initial nerves will have settled. 

During our first session together we will begin by going through our working agreement together. This agreement makes sure you are fully informed of the counselling process and what to expect. This only takes a few minutes but gives you the chance to ask any questions or clarify anything you are unsure about. The rest, as they say, is over to you.

This may feel like a daunting prospect right now but please don’t worry, I will not push or probe you for anything you are not comfortable talking about, some things take a little time, and a lot more trust!

Yes! It is completely normal to feel anxious before your first session. After all, putting your thoughts out to a stranger isn't easy.

Often people wonder what they will say and how they will say them, but in my experience once you have made that first step, the rest comes naturally.

I will always offer you a warm welcome and will not judge you on whatever it is troubling you. I am here to help.

At the moment anyone can call themselves a 'counsellor' and it is important the person you are working with has gained the adequate training and education required to work with a person's mental health safely and responsibly.

I am a fully qualified counsellor through CPCAB which enables me to work safely with your mental health. I am also a registered member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).

Applying for BACP membership requires counsellors to demonstrate they are fully competent and have received adequate knowledge and training to work safely and ethically. As a registered member I work to the highest professional standards and commit to continuing professional development.

As for my approach, I work as an integrative counsellor. This means I am able to use a number of different approaches and techniques depending on the person I am working with. I am a great believer that there is no one size fits all approach to counselling, what works for one person may not work for you; I am able to adapt my approach to fit your needs as opposed to the other way around! 

If you haven't already please fill in the contact form and I will then have your details and contact you to arrange a mutually suitable time for brief consultation.  Counselling can be a very personal experience, so it is important to find someone you feel you can trust and relate to. 

I aim to answer all of my emails within 24 hours, please feel free to call within office hours but I could be with a client, I do not have voicemail facilities.

In the consultation, we will roughly have 20mins to discuss what issues you are struggling with, common areas i work with are

• Trauma: Counselling can help people who have experienced trauma to process their experiences, cope with their emotions, and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
• Mental health disorders: Counselling can help people with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to manage their symptoms and improve their overall mental health.
• Life changes: Counselling can help people who are going through major life changes such as divorce, job loss, or the death of a loved one to cope with the challenges and make positive changes in their lives.
• Relationship problems: Counselling can help couples and families to improve their communication, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships.
• Personal growth: Counselling can help people to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in a safe and supportive environment. This can lead to increased self-awareness, self-acceptance, and personal growth.

Ultimately, the decision to seek counselling is a personal one. If you are struggling with a difficult issue or life change, counselling can be a helpful way to get support and guidance.

Here are some additional reasons why people might seek counselling:

• To deal with difficult emotions, such as anger, sadness, or anxiety.
• To improve their communication skills.
• To make decisions about their life.
• To develop coping mechanisms for stress.
• To improve their self-esteem.
• To build healthier relationships.
• To overcome addiction or substance abuse.
• To manage chronic pain or illness.
• To prepare for a major life change, such as retirement or the birth of a child.

 The length of humanistic counselling varies depending on the individual client's needs. 12 to 30 sessions are considered medium-term, some may benefit from longer-term therapy. In general, humanistic counselling is a process-oriented approach, which means that the focus is on the client's growth and development over time, which cant be rushed. 

There is absolutely no pressure to stay and even if you wish to cancel after the first session that is absolutely fine, I just ask that you let me know .