Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling and psychotherapy are both interventions that involve the development of a safe and confidential relationship between therapist and client. This provides opportunities to gain self-awareness, explore thoughts and feelings, enable clients to develop new understandings and achieve more of their full potential.

We are influenced by how we view ourselves, the relationships we have with others and the wider world. Sometimes our ways of managing the challenges common to many limit our capacity to lead fulfilling and contented lives.

What is involved

Sharing experiences in therapy can help us understand more about who we are, and how and why we relate in the way we do. With skilled support, we can begin to create additional choices, possibilities and outcomes. People seek therapy for many reasons. Often because they may have or are experiencing one or more of the following:

• stress
• anxiety and/or panic attacks
• confusion
• relationship difficulties
• one-off traumatic life event
• life change(s)
• poor concentration, appetite and/or sleep disturbance
• loss of energy and motivation
• difficulties with decision making
• bereavement
• low self-esteem
• problems with self-assertion

 

Central to therapy is the taking of responsibility for thoughts, feelings and actions. The general approach means that clients are less likely to be defined by their presenting problem(s) and more likely to be defined by their experiences, energy and desire for exploration and change. During therapy, there will be opportunities to :

• be listened to in a non-judgemental way
• develop a shared understanding of the challenges you are facing
• deepen an understanding of yourself
• identify and evaluate your current ways of managing
• learn how you are in relationship with yourself and others
• identify the ways in which you may limit your innate capacity to lead a fulfilling life
• agree a focus for the therapy and the desired outcome(s) about how you want to be, in terms of viewing yourself and relating to those around you
• agree the work to be done in order to move towards the desired outcome(s)

 

Next steps

If you want to have an informal discussion it is fine to contact one of the therapists based at the Clinic. It is not unusual to experience some anxiety and to have mixed feelings about taking such a step. The way forward is usually to make an initial consultation appointment and then agree a number of sessions with the therapist should you then decide that you wish to do some work with them.