COUNSELLING FOR ADULTS

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, therapy is "a treatment that helps someone feel better and grow stronger by relieving or healing a disorder’".

Having a safe, confidential, therapeutic space to talk with someone you trust can help you understand your feelings, explore and make choices about changes that are in your power, and navigate a path towards your goals.

With my support, you can look at your situation with new perspective, think about the underlying causes of problems, and begin your process of change.

Counselling can help you identify underlying themes and patterns of behaviour that are making you unhappy or unproductive and I aim to support you in achieving happy and fulfilling relationships both with yourself and with others.

The chances are, if you are reading this you are wanting to do at least one of the following:  

stop feeling stuck

alleviate distress

improve relationships

value yourself

understand what makes you tick

increase self-worth and self-confidence

improve well-being

gain a greater sense of self-awareness

understand negative patterns of behaviour

be your best self

make healthier choices 

change your perspective 

take control back

Counselling can help with all of the above (and more) as long as you are willing to bring all of yourself to our sessions and are   

willing to explore yourself and change.

There are many misconceptions about counselling and it can be helpful to think about what counselling isn't and what won't happen before starting sessions.

COUNSELLING IS NOT ADVICE

Giving advice is judgmental and assumes that you need to be told what's right for you. I will not tell you what to do, instead I will guide you in finding your solution. I won't impose my own solutions and opinions on you, instead I aim to empower you to face any future challenges independently. 

At times I may suggest possible behaviours or actions, however the decision to implement them will be left to you.

COUNSELLING IS NOT AN INSTANT SOLUTION

Counseling is not a quick fix. Instead it gives you an opportunity to gain clearer understanding of yourself and your issues. Often this leads to identification of beliefs or behaviors, which have prevailed for many years, and been contributing to the problem. Learning new ways to change longstanding beliefs takes time and effort. Expecting a miraculous solution to all of your problems would be setting yourself up to fail. Instead, look at counseling as a place where you will learn the skills needed not only to address the current situation, but also to handle future challenges.

COUNSELLING IS NOT "JUST TALKING"

I will give you uninterrupted space to speak, when that is what you need. However, unlike the cliche that counseling is talking to a silent spectator who agrees with everything you say our sessions will be interactive and collaborative. I will reflect on what you share and ask you questions enabling you to reflect more yourself.

THE COUNSELLING RELATIONSHIP IS PROFESSIONAL

 One of the most important parts of counselling is about having rapport or connection with your counsellor and building a strong therapeutic relationship.  

It isn't however a friendship, and your counsellor is not there to rescue you. Your counsellor will challenge you where necessary and you will remain accountable for your own actions to best equip you in the future.