WHAT IS COUNSELLING?

I view Counselling as a process of self discovery. Each Client is a unique individual with their own story.  

My aim is provide a space for you to explore your concerns in a safe environment, knowing that what you talk about is confidential and will be heard without judgement. 

I believe that having somewhere to go where you have the opportunity to talk about what is on your mind, knowing that the focus will be on you and your story, gives you the chance to reflect on what is important to you.

I will facilitate the exploration of your thought processes and beliefs and can help you to explore where these beliefs come from so you can decide for yourself whether they are relevant to your current life.   

This process is by no means easy.  More often than not it will involve talking about situations and relationships, both past and present, which may cause pain and distress.

In my experience, the benefits to Counselling far outweigh the downsides and people that make the most lasting changes to their lives are those who are open and honest about what is going on for them both within the Counselling Room and between sessions.

Many professionals use Counselling Skills in order to carry out their jobs (eg. Doctors, Nurses, Psychiatrists, Social Workers). However, these professionals are not always trained as Counsellors so may be unable to offer the same helping relationship that a qualified Counsellor can offer.

With the development of Artificial Intelligence there are platforms which can help with the process of self discovery.  However, I believe that there is no substitute for the relationship that one-to-one counselling can offer.


In summary...


COUNSELLING IS...


  • a unique, confidential, helping relationship
  • a process of self-discovery
  • a regular time, set aside for you, to talk about what you want to with a trained professional
  • an opportunity to talk about any aspect of your life to someone independent and non-judgemental
  • a commitment of time and effort


COUNSELLING CAN...

  • help with a range of emotional concerns
  • help someone to find the words to describe how they are feeling
  • help someone who wants to change any part of their life
  • empower an individual to regain control of any aspect of their life which is currently giving them difficulty


COUNSELLING IS NOT...

  • being told or advised what to do
  • a friendship
  • a quick or easy fix