Counselling

Counselling is about change and growth. Everyone has times in their lives where they feel challenged, low, anxious or frustrated. For many of us, friends and family provide the ear we need, but there are times when, for many reasons, troubles and anxieties cannot be shared with those close to us. Life can sometimes seem overwhelming or out of control. We may be unable to see a way forward or be experiencing difficulties which stem from things which happened in the past or from present life-changing events. That sense of being out of control can be destabilising and unsettling. If you are reading this page, it may be that you have reached the point where you feel things need to improve and that you could do with some help and support in making that happen. Whatever your concerns are at the moment, counselling can give you a calm, private space to think through and make the changes you need to make to regain a sense of control over your life.

Counselling room at The Calm Within, Bury

Deciding to have counselling takes courage. It may be that the issues or anxieties you are experiencing are things which you have not shared with any else. A good therapeutic relationship between the client and the counsellor is very important in helping to bring about the positive change you need to improve your life. So it matters that you choose someone who is right for you and with whom you make a positive connection. Finding a counsellor can be a bewildering process and I hope that this page will help you to decide whether I can offer the kind of counselling which will be beneficial to you or to someone you know. It may be that you are experiencing difficulties around stressful or traumatic life events, and counselling can be a way of working out how to move forward. You may, for example, be experiencing a painful loss or bereavement, separation, divorce, redundancy. Perhaps you feel you have low self-esteem or are lacking in confidence or are struggling with your sense of identity. Sometimes we need privacy and space to find a resolution to a situation, and to gain confidence in our ability to manage our own challenges in the future. Whatever difficulties you may be facing, counselling can be an effective and long-lasting way of dealing with them.


AIM OF COUNSELLING

Counselling offers a confidential opportunity to explore thoughts and feelings which you might find difficult to express elsewhere. . Your counsellor will create an accepting, non-judgmental atmosphere where you can be supported to take charge of your life, identify what's holding you back, address any challenges, and move forward, to live authentically.

Counselling is a process by which you and your therapist can develop a unique, confidential, supportive relationship. Having someone to talk to can be a really effective way of enabling you to work out what is making you feel stuck, overcome whatever issues are impacting negatively on you and support your growth and development.

 

MY APPROACH

I am a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

My core training is Person Centred, which is the basis for all the work I undertake and is based on empathy, honesty and being authentic. I offer a confidential, safe place where you are seen, heard, valued and accepted. I give you time to explore difficulties in your life within a non-judgemental, neuro-affirming, open and trusting relationship.

The therapy room is a safe space in which you are able to share the load of whatever it is that is preventing you from feeling in control of your life, helping you to understand yourself more fully. I have worked effectively with many different people, presenting with a variety of issues, and I will always allow your specific needs to inform the way we work.

Together, we can begin to understand why you are struggling, addressing the way past situations, relationships and events may have impacted on your life, and finding practical ways of dealing with stress.

I believe that we all hold within us the answer to our own problems and that the therapeutic relationship between client and counsellor is a unique and powerful one. The personal strength which comes from finding your own way forward can remain with you and be drawn upon in the future.

Different ways in which we may work include (but are not limited to):

  • Talking together

  • Using creative tools, such as metaphors, symbols, pictures, figures, writing, nesting dolls or artwork such as collages or drawing.

  • Inner-child work, in which you get to know and understand the child inside you, learning to love and accept yourself at a deeper level.

  • Psycho-education, in which I will share with you areas of understanding I hope will be beneficial, including learning more about neurodivergence, anxiety, the window of tolerance, stress responses, good sleep hygiene and more.

  • Relaxation techniques, including breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualisation and grounding techniques.

 

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT

After an initial conversation by email or phone we will arrange an appointment as soon as we can.

  • The First session

The first session is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about how I work or about the therapy process in general. There will be space for you to tell me about yourself, and discuss issues you would like to explore. This initial session should give us a good idea as to whether we feel comfortable working together and if you would like to continue with further sessions. It has taken a great deal of courage to seek counselling and it is important that you feel that you have made the right choice and that I am the right person for you. If we decide to work together, I would usually suggest an initial commitment of 6 sessions, (but for some people, longer or shorter term therapy is what they need). At that point we will review the work together and decide to either come to an ending, or to continue with ongoing sessions. The initial 6 sessions can often help decide whether short term work or working on a more open ended basis is appropriate for you.

  • How long is a session and how many will I need?

Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place on a weekly or fortnightly basis, at a regular time. The number of sessions will vary from person to person. Sometimes three to six sessions are enough for you to experience significant positive change, but for some people, longer term therapy is what they feel they need. This is something which we can decide on together.

  • How long will it take for me to start to feel better?

This will depend on the particular difficulties you are experiencing. For a lot of people it can be a huge relief even in the first session to be able to share difficulties that you have been dealing with. It is not unusual to go through a time of feeling worse, before one feels better and this can in fact be an important part of the process. Your counsellor is there to support you as you work through difficult periods.

If you have other questions about counselling or my practice, please do have a look at the FAQs section or send me a message.

For an initial chat please give me a call on 07970 856719 or fill out the form on the contact page.

To find out more about counselling and the BACP, please click here.