What is counselling?
A counsellor is trained to listen with empathy (by putting themselves in your shoes). They can help you deal with any negative thoughts and feelings you have.
Counselling falls under the umbrella term ‘talking therapies’ and allows people to discuss their problems and any difficult feelings they encounter in a safe, confidential environment. The term can mean different things to different people, but in general it is a process people seek when they want to change something in their lives or simply explore their thoughts and feelings in more depth. A counsellor is not there to sit you down and tell you what to do – instead they will encourage you to talk about what’s bothering you in order to uncover any root causes and identify your specific ways of thinking. The counsellor may then look to create a plan of action to either help you reconcile your issues or help you to find ways of coping.
How to enquire
You can ring or email me to enquire. This is when I will take down some information to understand what your issues are and what you may need support with.
Please state if you do not wish my therapy cat be present in your sessions, as she lives in the therapy room, and would need to be removed if that is what you decide. I also have a small therapy dog too.
(If you have any allergies, then it’s not a good idea to continue).
If you are happy to come I will then book you in for an assessment appointment. (see Fees page about when and what to pay).
The assessment appointment
introductions
Welcome to therapy. By now my therapy cat Neenee will have introduced herself and has come to sit with you. Having her there will help you relax and talk (see the animal assisted therapy page).
The assessment will give you time to explain what’s been going on for you. I will complete a form which helps me gather more information. You will be asked to complete a PHQ9 form for depression symptoms and a GAD 7 for any anxiety symptoms and if you are struggling with trauma an IES form. These forms give me an initial score which gives us a starting point to work from. The idea being to get the scores down as we work through your issues.
If you score above 25 on the IES form this means that Rewind Therapy would be a good technique to use, to help you get rid of any symptoms of PTSD or vivid images you have been eft with (see Rewind Therapy page for more details).
After the assessment you are under no obligation to continue therapy. If you do wish to continue then we will complete the counselling contract and the GDPR policy. We will then make an appointment for your next session. Payment for this session will have to be made there and then or within 24 hours to secure it in the diary.
Reviews
Your therapy will be reviewed every 6 -8 sessions. This will help us to see how your progressing, give us a re-focus on what to work on next, Or reduce the frequency in your sessions as you start to feel better and more in control. This can be fortnightly, three weekly or monthly.
Endings
Some people will naturally come to an end of their sessions. Some clients will leave the door open and come back if they require any future help.
Counselling does not come in a cookie-cutter format and each session is generally tailored to the individual. There is flexibility within this type of therapy that allows for a variety of counselling formats, including:
Face-to-face – This is when you make an appointment with a counsellor to see them in person, usually at their practice. Face-to-face sessions are one of the more popular therapy formats because they provide an opportunity for you to react to any emotions that arise there and then.
Individual or group – You may choose to see a counsellor by yourself, or if you prefer you could join a counselling group with people experiencing similar issues. Going to a group counselling session can be helpful if you want to discuss your issues with people who are going through similar problems and you may even gain yourself a support network. Alternatively, you may wish to see a counsellor alone to preserve your privacy and concentrate on your own feelings.
Telephone counselling – For some, telephone counselling offers a helpful alternative to face-to-face counselling. This involves talking to your counsellor over the phone instead of in person. This form of counselling can be particularly useful for those too busy to attend face-to-face sessions, and can be carried out in the comfort of your own home. This format also tends to be more flexible and can potentially reduce waiting list times.
Online counselling – Some people prefer not to physically speak to a counsellor at all, utilizing technology and emailing their counsellor instead. This form of counselling allows you to take the time to think through what you wish to discuss, and many find the act of physically writing their issues down cathartic. Online counselling also offers you the chance to protect your anonymity.
Single Session Therapy – Single Session Therapy is a one off counselling session (up to a maximum of 3 hours in duration), and the price includes a brief follow up. In this session you can discuss your presenting issue, what’s bothering you in the ‘here and now’. While you talk I will take notes, a brief assessment so I can gain an overall understanding of your circumstances. It may be an issue at work, a relationship issue, a family problem or anything your struggling with. The idea is for us to work collaboratively, to find a way to help you. The session may include discussing how you feel, any goals you want to achieve, a management plan, coping strategies etc. This individual session is useful if you urgently need to talk, or seek advice and useful should you do not wish to contract for a number of weekly sessions. After you have had a single session and follow up, you may come back for more sessions if you wish. It’s up to you. If I feel your issue will need more work than one session, I will be honest and this can be discussed.
Counselling can help you to:
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