What happens when you come to Counselling?
Coming to counselling is a big decision. It takes time and commitment, so choosing the right type of therapy and the right therapist is important.
I’m a Person Centred Therapist, which essentially means you as the client are at the centre of our work together. You decide what to bring to therapy, what you want to achieve and you set the pace of the work. Our work will be ethical and boundaried, but there are no set expectations, just the offer of a space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings and move towards your personal aims.
The connection we build will be important, with elements of a healthy relationship you would encounter elsewhere. Together we will foster a mutually respectful and trusting relationship where you can feel safe, heard and understood.
You may just want to talk during your counselling, and that’s absolutely fine. You may feel more comfortable expressing your thoughts on paper, or by using other creative ways to explore and reflect. You may want to use a more embodied approach, engaging with your body’s wisdom as a resource for understanding or using movement to express yourself.
Whatever you feel comfortable with, I can assure you I will work alongside you to make the most of your time in counselling.
What kind of things do people bring to counselling?
All sorts! Whatever is important to you, there’s no right or wrong. Examples of themes people bring are bereavement, anxiety, feeling low or depressed, low self esteem, feeling stressed or overwhelmed, living with Autism or ADHD, traumatic experiences.
It may be something in the here and now or an event or experience in the past that’s on your mind. Perhaps you’re not sure where you want to be in life, or you’re experiencing life changes such as menopause, divorce, or health issues and want to explore what this means for you.
Counselling is an opportunity to be autonomous, to be empowered and fulfilled. Whatever your focus is, we’ll work through it together.
What to expect when you come to counselling
You can choose to meet me in person at my base in Mansfield Woodhouse or online using Google Meet for our sessions, or a mix of these. You can also opt to have counselling via telephone if this suits you best. Whichever option you choose, we will arrange a convenient time to meet. At our first session I will guide you through a counselling agreement and we will discuss confidentiality. I will ask you a few questions about yourself and you can ask me any questions you have. We can then look at how to work towards your aims together, or talk about what these might be if you’re not sure.
A session lasts for 50 minutes, you can choose weekly sessions or we can talk about meeting less frequently. I will try and work with your needs and preferences, offering the same time slot for you each week or working more flexibly around your commitments.
Take a look at the ‘About Me’ page to read more about my experience and qualifications or contact me to arrange a free fifteen minute telephone consultation to find out more. Information about where I work, fees and more can be found on ‘Good to Know’.