What Issues Can I Help With?
- Trauma
And there are other areas. During our first session we will consider whether or not it is likely that I will be able to help you.
What is Counselling?
At its most basic level counselling is simply a safe and consistent environment where someone can talk about their life without fear of being either judged, or told what to do. That is where I focus my primary attention - on developing the kind of warm relationship with my clients that will allow them to speak about their lives, thoughts, and feelings.
Where appropriate a more active approach may be used. My clients sometimes need some help finding coping strategies to deal with life outside, or with exercises to promote a process of change in either feelings, thoughts, or behaviour.
I take a holistic view of our human condition so that I see us all as a product of our past experiences, our present circumstances, our feelings, our thoughts, and our behaviours. It is perfectly possible to treat most behaviours such as excessive drinking, or anger, or anxiety by working out coping strategies (and I do indeed offer that). But I also believe that a genuine sense of health springs from dealing with the underlying causes of our emotions, beliefs and impulses and that without addressing those issues problems may return or be replaced with others.
Ultimately the way we deal with life is dependent on how we feel about ourselves. Which brings me back to my beginning: somehow the experience of a relationship with someone who is completely accepting of us, genuine in their responses, and able to attune to our feelings can bring about huge positive changes in the way that we experience the world. That is the service that I offer.
What Benefits can be Expected?
In many ways the benefits are up to you, and how far you want to go. It is my aim to make myself redundant, to hear my clients say: "I don't need counselling anymore, I can make it on my own now". I do expect that my clients will leave a course of counselling feeling better about themselves and better equipped with the internal resources which can make life such a precious experience.
At its best counselling can lead to a new kind of freedom. Freedom from reliance upon, or being hurt by the opinions of others. Freedom to make positive choices about life. Freedom from the negative influences of the past. Freedom to enjoy more meaningful relationships.
