FAQ

Answering your concerns

What is Counselling?

Counselling is a talking therapy that helps you come to terms with emotional and/or mental health imbalances. Talking with a trained professional helps you to understand your life situation and to reveal your hidden resources. Through building your resilience you are better able to cope with your difficulties – whatever they are. Furthermore, counselling provides a safe space for you to explore in a confidential way the things that are affecting you and making you feel ill at ease. In particular you gain a better insight into what is behind your troubles. With greater awareness comes lower anxiety and reduced tension and you are better placed to discover and develop ways of accepting, and so changing or moving forward from your current difficulties.

How do I choose a counsellor?

First and foremost, it is important to choose a counsellor you feel at ease with and can trust. Studies have shown that the better the relationship between you and your counsellor, the more you are likely to benefit from the counselling.

Here are some ideas that might help you find the right counsellor for you: 

To begin with you may like to do a bit of research on a few counsellors. Check out their website, social media or other advertising material. Beyond this, when you feel able, contact them. Messaging or emailing is good; however, talking to them will give you the best sense of whether you could work openly with them. Many, like me, offer a free, no obligation telephone call which you can make use of. Otherwise, meeting them for a single session to outline your situation will also allow you to find out more about them and how they work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for more information before you make up your mind.

If you would like to research me a bit more then click on this link to visit my Facebook Page.

What are important things to consider?

Some good questions to ask your-self when speaking for the first time with a prospective counsellor are:

Do I like how they talk to me and treat me?

Do I feel safe with them?

Would I feel comfortable telling them about my life?

Could I trust them and be completely open with them?

You may have other concerns you want to explore as well, so give some thought to this and ask the questions that really matter to you. In the end you have to be comfortable with the choice you make, so take your time,

What if I change my mind?

At any point before or after you have started in therapy, you can change your mind. If a counsellor doesn’t feel right for you, then it’s perfectly acceptable to tell them how you are feeling, thank them for their time and walk away. Counsellors are hardy folk and will not be offended by you doing this.

Not everyone finds the right counsellor first time. Remember though, there will be a right counsellor out there for you. If you have been unsuccessful before it does not mean you will be unsuccessful this time.

What can I expect in a session?

Counsellors work differently to one another so I can only really tell you about counselling sessions with me.  In these, you and your greater wellbeing will be at the centre of all that we do together. You will be in control of the pace and content of the session. As you speak, you can expect to be empathically heard. Whether you talk about your present situation, past memories or future concerns I will listen without judgement. Furthermore, I will support you in bringing forward a deeper understanding of your key thoughts, your important memories and the significant moments in your life: gently touching and exploring any associated feelings and emotions.

At times you may be invited to use specific techniques and other counselling aids, particularly when you are finding it hard to express yourself fully. These can include:

  • Artwork such as drawing and painting
  • Music
  • Body Sensations and Subtle Movements
  • Creative visualisation
  • Dream work
  • Mindfulness
  • Breathing and relaxation methods

As always, if anything I offer doesn’t feel right for you then you can refuse or stop. You are in control.

How many sessions will I have?

Counselling can be short or long term. The number of sessions will depend on you and the depth and complexity of the issues you want to resolve. You can have as few or as many sessions as you like. Throughout our work together there will be regular reviews to ensure that you only have the number of sessions that suit your requirements. The final decision on when you stop always rests with you.

Contact me to make an appointment or if you have any further concerns.