What is Counselling?
Counselling is a process of exploration. A process for change.
The counsellor creates a confidential, non-judgmental space in which the client can explore their thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Through this process the client gains greater understanding of their internal world and what is influencing it and is then better able to make choices about how they want to think, feel and behave. Counselling doesn’t dictate a way to be, counsellors accept clients for who they are and in doing so clients can feel confident to explore their own possibilities for change and find a way of being that fits them.
When to Seek Counselling
Many people seek counselling at a time of crisis in their lives, when past experiences or current situations may be blocking them from moving forward. However, you don’t have to be in crisis to seek counselling. Many people benefit from counselling as a method of achieving personal growth, by increasing their understanding of themselves and their relationships with others.
How Can Counselling Help?
Counselling is not a magic wand for all of life’s problems but it can help you to reframe problems, gain greater understanding of the impact of your beliefs and behaviours, develop better relationships with yourself and others, discover your true values and live a more compassionate, curious life.
Issues I Can Help With
I can help if you need change but don’t know how to achieve it, or if you feel overwhelmed, alone or stuck. You might not even know how you feel or understand what is happening to you. You might not know who you are anymore, or feel like you are not able to be your true self.
It might be that a specific experience is causing you distress or it might be that one experience has been the final straw to overload you. It might be that you have reached a point in your life when you have decided you want to tackle the legacies of past experiences.
We all have uncomfortable feelings like sadness and fear. These feelings come and go like the weather, but when these feelings persist and become overwhelming, we know there is something wrong that needs our attention. Here are just some of the symptoms of distress that often bring people to counselling:
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Fearfulness / Anxiety
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Low mood / sadness
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Stress
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Relationship issues
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Low self-esteem
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Identify issues
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Obsessions and compulsions
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Eating issues / relationship with food
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Self harm / suicidal thoughts
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Loss of feelings / numbness
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Bereavement / Loss
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Anger
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Emptiness / meaninglessness
