What to expect.
Getting started with counselling
If you've not had counselling before, you might feel nervous about getting started or unsure what to expect. Just the thought of opening up to a stranger can feel… well, strange! So, let’s start at the beginning.
What is counselling?
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy where you talk to a trained professional about your personal, emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues that might be causing distress or difficulty in daily life. It can help you understand yourself, explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe and confidential environment, and find ways to cope with difficulties.
A counsellor helps by providing support, guidance, and tools to cope with problems, improve mental well-being, and make informed decisions. You can talk about a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, stress, loss, and relationship difficulties.
My approach
Choosing the right counsellor for you is so important. While qualifications and experience are important, it's also about finding someone you feel comfortable opening up to, at times about things you may not have shared with anyone else before.
My clients tell me that it's my calm, kind approach that helps them feel comfortable talking openly. During our time together it’s my aim for us to foster a relationship built on trust, acceptance, respect, and compassion.
I work collaboratively with clients, where we decide together which therapeutic methods are the best fit for your needs, and adapt as we go if needed. Working in this transparent way not only allows us to shape your therapy in a way that works for you but also helps to empower you to find solutions that you can take forward.
What if I struggle to talk about feelings?
Counselling is a talking-based therapy. Talking about feelings can be difficult for some people. It can be hard to find the words to describe how you feel, or even connect with your emotions in the first place. This is exactly what a good counsellor can help with. I’ll gently support you in exploring your experiences, the effect they’ve had on you, and help you find ways to cope better and take steps forward.
Creative therapy
I can work creatively with clients who wish to and might find it useful. Creative therapy can help you express how you feel without relying on words or feeling pressure to articulate how you feel.
Don't worry if you're not a creative person (I'm not either!), you don't need to be ‘good at art’ to be able to benefit from creative therapy. In fact, there are many ways to work creatively without ever having to create a ‘thing'‘! For example, we can use prompts such as emotion cards, figures, and guided exploratory activities to uncover deeper thoughts or emotions and help you make sense of them.
If working creatively really isn't your thing, that's absolutely fine! I will be led by you and what you need. I'm training in a mixture of counselling methods (including humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapy) and can draw on these skills as and when they might be beneficial.