How can I decide if I need counselling?
For many of us there are times in life where we feel unable to cope. At some point you too may feel depressed, anxious, alone or confused by life's circumstances. Perhaps memories from your past, painful events in the present or worries about the future mean you feel unable to enjoy life or achieve your aims. Maybe you have discovered a tendency to repeat unhelpful patterns of behaviour and thought which you would like to understand or change.
What can counselling offer me that my friends and family can't?
You may find that close relatives and friends, whilst caring, do not seem able to help. Perhaps they want to cheer you up, encourage you to "snap out of it" or believe that talking to you about their similar problems will help you. Of course, you may simply not want to burden them with your problems. You may find it more helpful to talk to someone who is a trained and experienced listener; someone who will hear what you are saying and understand how you feel; who can listen beyond what is being said without judging you.
How can counselling help me?
Through professional listening and reflecting, the aim is to assist you in understanding how past experiences and current behaviour may be linked. It will allow you a safe space to explore thoughts and feelings about yourself and your relationships with others, helping you to a better understanding of your emotional difficulties. This understanding can allow you to start to deal with the problems, with the help and support of your counsellor.
What actually happens during a counselling session?
Each one-to-one session will last 50 minutes and will take place on a weekly basis. Some people feel unsure what is expected of them or how to proceed when they are given time to talk about themselves. You will not be asked lots of questions because I believe it is vital to give you the time and space to express your feelings, but recognise this may feel unfamiliar at first.
How long does counselling last?
Your counselling may be for an agreed limited period or open-ended. In either situation the timing of the ending of the counselling relationship is important and for this reason will be discussed in advance by both you and the counsellor.
How much will counselling cost?
As a guide, you can expect to pay between £25 and £40 for each session. However, the cost of counselling will be agreed between you and the counsellor.