How Counselling Helps

Trust is the cornerstone of my relationship with clients. They share painful feelings and experiences with me knowing I hold this information in the strictest confidence. This is a really important principle for me. It’s why I never ask for or publish endorsements from former clients. Nonetheless, I appreciate would-be clients want to know a little more about what goes on behind the closed doors of the counselling room, so, without breaking confidences, here’s an insight…

My work takes place in a purpose-built therapy cabin where we meet face-to-face, or via Zoom or telephone, for an hour. The counselling session is time devoted to you in this tranquil space that’s removed from the distractions and pressures of everyday life.

You set the agenda and the pace and talk in complete confidence about anything that’s troubling you. You don’t need to prepare for the sessions, do ‘homework’ or think of something ‘significant’ to say.

I listen empathically in order to step into your shoes and try to understand things from your unique perspective. I am as open as I can be to you and your experience. I may check something with you to understand you better or I might notice something about you that could provide an insight.

As a rule, people listen to another person in order to respond. I listen to understand and that can be especially powerful if you have been struggling alone for a long time, bottling things up. Problems that once seemed insoluble begin to unravel. Painful feelings can be approached with equanimity. People tell me they start to feel ‘lighter’, freer.

When you can hear yourself think, or name the feelings gnawing at your stomach, you start to understand yourself better. And when you are accepted for who you are, you find you can accept yourself, be yourself and trust your innate ability to make decisions that are right for you.