Looking for a counsellor can be a daunting task. The reasons people decide to have counselling are very personal. Therapists, also being individuals have their own ways of working and sometimes it is difficult to choose the one that’s right for us. Counselling, like any form of therapy only works when you feel truly comfortable and trust that the person sitting in front of you is genuinely there with you and for you.
The therapeutic process is a very much like revisiting the book of your life. Once you feel safe enough to let your story unfold, it’s time to choose some chapters to explore more carefully. We will reflect on the impact that those experiences had on you. Could they somehow be related to your current situation? We will walk through Memory Lane but won’t stay there for too long. The Here and Now is more important. As we approach the latest chapters, hopefully you will start recognizing yourself as the author of your book and therefore fully entitled to rewrite any scripts and give your story the direction you are happy with.
How do I work?
There are different modalities of therapy available. Therapists work in many ways depending on the areas that they specialized and the needs of the client. In my work in integrate elements of the Humanistic and Existential approaches.
Humanistic counselling encourages individuals to gain a better understanding of their feelings. We can reflect on whether current attitudes, thoughts and behaviours are a result of previous conditioning or lack of self worth. We will look at you as an individual that has potential as well as every right to be who you are and fully entitled to your own values, beliefs and ideas.
It is not my purpose to “cure” clients. Instead of aiming for rigid outcomes, my work gravitates more towards helping clients to refine their perspectives. Together we will examine and clarify your personal values and motivations and discover what is truly important to you. You may have been thrown into a life you did not want. Hopefully therapy will help you to regain your sense of identity and purpose and put you in a better position to decide what to do with the experiences you’ve had.
Existential therapy offers a more philosophical perspective. It sees pain, uncertainty, fear and crisis as fundamental parts of life and the human condition but it also encourages clients to reflect on the concepts of meaning and purpose, freedom and responsibility. Finding the meaning and purpose that people, places and events have played in your life can not only help to you to come to terms with your own experiences but can also empower you towards a more authentic and fulfilling life.
I tend to center more on the Here and Now. I see the past as a valuable tool to gain insight on the present but not necessarily as a deterrent to an individual’s life. The realization that you don’t have to be defined by your history and that you can determine what is important to you today can be very liberating.
My work is not solution focused. It’s not only about reaching targets. A client is a whole person, not a problem to be resolved. During the session you are the expert in judging your own experiences. I am there for you as a helpful facilitator, holding space for you to unfold, to reflect and to reach your own conclusions.
In my current practice I work with the following themes:
- Apathy & depression
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Loss & bereavement – including pet bereavement.
- Trauma
- Disruptive life changes
- Existential crisis
- Spiritual counselling
Working Together:
After our initial contact you may wish to take a few days before you make a decision. You need to think about what you want from therapy and if I am the right therapist for you. All being well, we will meet either in person or online. Please note that our first appointment is an assessment, hence the different fee. This time will be dedicated to ‘admin’ such as contracting, form filling etc that need to be done. You may also have further questions to ask. It’s a very useful meeting, a good place for us to start before we jump in. I have outlined a few points below that may be helpful in giving you an idea of what to expect:
Date, Time and Duration of Sessions:
I offer a 50 minutes session as standard practice. Sessions are always on the same day and at the same time every week. Naturally emergencies happen but it is important to maintain consistency in therapy so once we agreed on date and time, we will respect the agreement and in case one of us need to change we will discuss the best way forward.
Fees:
I try to be as inclusive as possible and I am fully committed to make counselling accessible to those who need. Please contact me if you feel you would benefit from counselling but have a limited budget.
- Initial assessment and contracting: £50
- Sessions: £65
- Students/ Low Income: 45
Contract:
A contract is an agreement negotiated between us once we agree to work together. The purpose of the contract is to protect you and me by specifying the arrangements that will sustain our work together. Matters related to time, frequency and fees, changes and cancellations can be discussed or amended but issues related to confidentiality and boundaries are non negotiable.
In case I am not able to work with a client I am happy to refer to another therapist or to signpost to a helpful service. I currently only work with adults over the age of 21.
Please feel welcome to contact me if you would like any further information. I would be delighted to hear from you.
