You may not know what to expect from counselling and have worries about how the process works. On top of this, different counsellors adopt very differently approaches to therapy. This makes choosing the right counsellor for you a difficult yet essential part of the process. To help with your decision I have put together some questions and answers to try and shed some light on how it works.
What is counselling?
Counselling is a form of ‘talking therapy’.
It provides an opportunity for you to talk about your feelings and concerns in a way which may not be possible with your friends or family.
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Anyone can access counselling. Some people simply want to talk, and really be heard, and this in itself can be a very powerful experience.
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As a counsellor, I offer a safe, non-judgmental and confidential space that is exclusively for you. A space that allows you the opportunity to talk about any issues you may want to bring, past or present.
What form of counselling do you offer?
I am an integrative therapist. I begin by listening carefully to you, your experience and concerns. I will draw on skills and methods from differing approaches, integrating them to suit the work we do together. I often draw on:
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Working together is fundamental to the process. Rather than giving advice or making decisions for you, I will be here to help you explore and understand your choices, and support you in any decisions that you choose to adopt.
While we will be working collaboratively, it is you that is at the heart of this process and it will be our concerted goal to build your own inner strength and independence.
What can counselling achieve?
Talking to a qualified therapist may help you to:
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Learn more about yourself.
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Make sense of your thoughts and feelings.
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Respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.
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Learn to take control of your life.
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Identify and make the changes in your life that you feel are needed when you feel you are ready to do so.
Does it work?
The short answer is Yes! Many of the people I have worked with have benefited immensely, citing significant and permanent changes to their lives. Furthermore, research conducted on the effectiveness of counselling in 2000 showed a significant reduction in the symptoms when compared to usual GP care.
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Why choose to go private?
Choosing a private practitioner comes with two major benefits:
Firstly, the therapeutic process can be started within days of first contact, instead of waiting weeks or even months to begin the process.
Secondly, the length of the therapeutic process is decided by you. Whereas, in many public sector organisations there are restrictions around how many sessions you will be offered.
Do you offer any specialised therapy?
I am a fully qualified EMDR therapist, a therapy specifically aimed at treating trauma and PTSD
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Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is a structured therapy that helps patients process traumatic memories by briefly focusing on them while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements. The therapy aims to change the way the memory is stored in the brain, thus reducing and eliminating problematic symptoms.