What style of counselling do I offer?
I'm primarily a person-centred counsellor. The philosophy of a person-centred counsellor is underpinned by a view that you are the best authority of your experiences. This means I have an unwavering belief in your ability to solve your
problem, provided there is a climate in which you feel free to do so.
This climate is one where you are accepted unconditionally and without judgment; where you are listened to with empathetic understanding and where I, as your counsellor, respond with genuineness in our relationship.
In such a climate there is a freedom to tap into your own vast internal resources for self understanding, personal growth and therapeutic change.
See the counselling process page for an outline of what happens during sessions.
What kind of people turn to counselling?
People who come to counselling are ordinary people, just like you.
They worry
about upsetting others; they struggle with fear, self doubt or guilt: they want to feel in control; they want to do "the right thing"; they need a practical solution; they want peace of mind. Mostly, they just want to feel good about themselves and the decisions they make.
You don't have to cope with a problem alone
A belief that we're supposed to be able to handle things on our own, gives rise to feelings of inadequacy when we struggle to find a solution. This can cause us to feel embarrassed about our perceived failings and in turn, this embarrassment can stop us from reaching out for help.
This is especially true for those of you coping with an anxiety disorder or or panic attacks. It can be embarrassing to admit you struggle with anxiety when you know others get anxious too, but it hasn't dominated their life. This can cause you to feel weak in some way, yet this is not at all true. In fact, when you have
an anxiety disorder it takes a lot of courage just to face each day.
Often it's through sharing a problem that you feel less weighed down by it. If that sharing is met with non-judgment, respect and genuine caring, there is the freedom to explore ways of moving forward.
