How is counselling different from talking to a friend?
The relationship between a counsellor and client is different from other relationships, for example between a friend or parent. One of the main characteristic of the counselling or therapeutic relationship that differentiates the counselling relationship from a personal relationship is the counsellor’s ability to actively listen to all your thoughts and feelings without accusation or judgement.
Counselling can really benefit a number of clients because they feel able to discuss thoughts or feelings with a counsellor that they are not able to do with friends or family members. This is because sometimes the people we feel closest too, find it too painful to talk about some of the fear and anxieties we are struggling with. Counselling can offer a way of gaining new insight and perspectives on thoughts and feelings through discussing them with a counsellor who is both understanding and objective.
How can counselling help me to feel better?
Supporting individuals with additional physical, mental health or learning needs can feel like an exhausting full time job description. Assisting someone to cope with change and transition can be enormously frustrating; fitting into their regime or process can put other family members under great pressure, leading to feelings of resentment, anger and guilt. One of the ways in which counselling can support families or carers is to offer a safe space to help clients talk through challenging thoughts, feelings or situations, in order to arrive at a different or new perspective.
Having a space to acknowledge conflicting thoughts or feelings can be a great release for many clients who are finally able to express long held fears or anxieties that they dare not share with friends or partners for fear of losing their love or respect. Counselling can also offer clients the opportunity to identify where their own personal needs or desires are separate from their roles of parent, sibling or family member and where these feelings such as duty or obligation are coming into conflict.
Some possible reasons why people might look for counselling, is for for help and support with some of the following concerns below:
- Change and Transition
- Relationship Problems
- Depression
- General Anxiety
- Social Phobia
- Support with Bereavement
- Feelings of Loss and Hopelessness
- Fear for the future
The list above is by no means exhaustive but gives some possible areas that may be explored in our work together.
What to expect from counselling?
There is no one way to counsel and I believe that it is important to offer clients an individually tailored service that best supports their specific learning style. In order to offer the most effective therapeutic experience, I offer clients a range of different therapeutic techniques and interventions, including: Genograms, Mood Stones, Memory Boxes, Focusing and Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (CBT).
How Long will I need counselling for?
The length of time necessary for people to begin feeling the benefits of counselling is highly subjective and personal; for some clients, a single appointment may be all that is required; others may prefer to attend over a number of sessions. The exact number of appointments and frequency of meetings can be flexible agreed to suit your own individual requirements.
