What is Counselling all about?
Counselling is time for you to be listened to, without being judged, without being interrupted, without being told what to do, and to talk to me in confidence.
Counselling will help you to look at what is going on in your life, and will help you deal with your emotions and your different thoughts and feelings.
Counselling will give you an opportunity for you to talk, and be fully listened to.
There are many different ways that you can be helped to make positive changes in your life, and learn about yourself and what works best for you. Counselling will encourage you to change and grow in your own unique way.
See below for info on some of the counselling methods you may have heard about, and how they could help you.
What exactly is CBT?
CBT means Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
This counselling model teaches you that what you are thinking can change your behaviours,
and also how your body reacts to situations.
I am able to explain CBT to you in a way that will help you understand that what you think impacts on what you do and how you feel.
CBT can help you start to make sense of your thoughts and how your thoughts can impact your behaviours and actions.
CBT can help you to practice using different, more helpful thoughts and behaviours, replacing those thoughts and behaviours that are not helping your mental and physical wellbeing.
What is Integrative Counselling?
You may have heard of Integrative Counselling.
Integrative Counselling is where I am able to use different types of counselling theory to help you, a bit like a 'toolbox'.
For example, I may use CBT to help you, as well as creative therapies and perhaps relaxation techniques, which I may introduce for you to help you manage your stress.
Everyone is an individual with a unique life story, which means that there is not a 'one size fits all' approach when you choose to have some counselling with me. Your counselling will always be tailored to you personally .
Why Go to Counselling Anyway?
Counselling is not the same as talking to a family member or a friend.
Of course, we all need to talk to family members and our friends when something is worrying us, and we would also want them to come to us!
When you decide to choose me for counselling, it is because you are choosing to get expert help to work out the best solution for you in a confidential, supportive and unbiased way.
After all, counselling is not advice, and I will not give you solutions or answers-instead I will help you find your own solutions and answers, with all the support you need.