THERAPY
Very Best Me...
'It's not about 'finding yourself'. That's not really how it works. We aren't an old fiver in a back pocket. Our true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other people's opinions and inaccurate conclusions we take on board as kids that become our beliefs as to who we are. 'Finding yourself' is actually returning to yourself, undoing, unlearning and remembering who we were before the world got its teeth into us...'
Created from the words of Emily McDowell
Therapy is not a 'one size fits all' process. Every person is a complex individual, and every relationship is unique. The information below will hopefully provide answers to some of your questions.
What issues can counselling help with?
Clients come to me with wide-ranging problems, including;
- Addiction - gambling, sex, alcohol/substance use disorders
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Bereavement, grief and loss.
- Workplace issues (stress, work-life imbalances)
- Trauma
- Anger Management
- Relationship issues
- Depression (including suicidal ideation, low mood, social withdrawal)
- Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
- Sexuality and sexual problems
- Phobias and Fears
What kinds of people seek counselling?
Counselling has no barriers. You are welcomed, regardless of your age, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or employment group. Counselling is also not just for adult individuals, but is beneficial for couples, families, teenagers and children.
Will our sessions be confidential?
Yes, all information disclosed during the counselling process is held in the strictest confidence. I am a member of the BACP and the NCS and work to their ethical frameworks. There are some exceptions and this is discussed in more depth during the initial session and in our contract together and any questions you might have can be answered.
What if I am not local or cannot get to you?
That is not a problem. I provide telephone/online counselling through Teams, Skype or WhatsApp and I will contact you at an agreed time. This works in the same way as a face-to-face session without the travel time and associated costs. This is ideal for clients living in other parts of the country still wishing to engage with my service.
How do I schedule an appointment?
I offer a free 15-minute initial assessment by telephone so you can share what your expectations are from our sessions and to see if we have the chemistry necessary to build a strong and trusting therapeutic relationship. You are also able to go right ahead and book a 50-minute individual session if that's your preference. There are various options you can use to schedule an appointment. You can book by visiting the 'Book a Session' page or additionally the 'Contact Me' page or you can give me a call.
How soon could I start counselling?
I am usually able to offer an initial session at fairly short notice. I offer a range of appointment times/days so have flexibility to fit around clients' availability.
How long should I expect to have to continue counselling?
There is no standard length of time - this will very much depend on your unique circumstances and needs. We will take things one session at a time and if at any point you feel you would like to discontinue therapy for any reason, this is your choice. Keep in mind that once you start sessions, new issues can arise that you may not have been aware existed that you then want to explore. By contrast, it is also possible to feel improvements faster than expected.