Counselling is a talking therapy, which offers you a safe, confidential space where you can explore with a trained professional whatever in your life is causing you emotional difficulty or distress.

 

Perhaps you’re suffering from past trauma, wanting support with present difficulties, or worried about what the future brings.  Perhaps you're facing  loss, relationship difficulties, or major life changes, or feeling down, depressed or anxious.  Or perhaps you simply want to understand yourself better. There’s no “right” or “wrong” reason to come to counselling, and you don’t have to be in crisis to do so.

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It's not usually a "quick fix", but the changes it can help create can be profound and enduring. 

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As a person-centred counsellor, I work with you, the client - not "the problem".  However, counselling can help with many issues including depression, anxiety, PTSD, interpersonal relationships, major life changes, grief and loss (and much more), and enable greater self-awareness and self-trust.  As a person-centred counsellor I don't diagnose - but I am very happy to discuss what any diagnosis you may have means for you. 

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We know from experience and from research that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important aspects of any therapy.  In order to help us work out if we are a good fit to work together, I offer a free 20-minute consultation. 

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Person-Centred Counselling

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I’m trained in the person-centred approach, which I chose because it fits well with my view of human nature. Founded by the American psychologist Carl Rogers (1902-1987), it's based on the idea that we all have within us the capacity to grow, develop and fulfil ourselves in the way that is right for us, given the right environment.  My role as your counsellor is to provide you with that environment - a safe, confidential, empathic and utterly non-judgemental space where we can explore what is troubling you and together find your way forward.  I believe that you are the expert on your life.  I won't tell you what to do, but will work with you to help you find your own solutions. 

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I also draw from more recent developments in the person-centred approach, which place great importance on the counselling relationship, and on paying attention to what is happening in the here-and-now, including in the counselling room between us (relational/dialogic and experiential, if you'd like the technical terms).

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People often find they can tell their counsellor something that they have never been able to share with another human being.  Being truly heard, and accepted, can be transformative.  

 

If you would like to find out more about person-centred counselling there is some information on the BACP website.

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That’s the theory: for what it means in practice, in our sessions, please click here. 

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