My Approach
I've shared in the 'about me' section a little bit of information about the kind of counselling I offer, rooted in the person-centred modality created by Carl Rogers.
​
I am a great believer that the therapeutic relationship that we create together can be a real cornerstone, a place of safety from which you can explore what brings you to counselling.
​
If you are interested in pursuing counselling with me, it is often helpful for us to talk informally on the phone or via a web meeting (I use Zoom) so I can get a better idea of what you are looking for and we can talk about the ways I may be able to help you. Every person I work with is unique, as is their life experience so far, so this initial discussion is a good place to start, it also gives you the opportunity to connect with me outside of my website and get a sense if you'd like to continue.
​
After this discussion, if you wish to carry on, we will organise an initial session. Counselling sessions generally last for 60 minutes although if we are incorporating a specific intervention (such as Rewind or The Flash Technique), we would usually book a slightly longer session at 90 minutes.
​
Counselling is offered in-person or on-line. If we meet in-person, these sessions are held in my private counselling room. On-line sessions are held via Zoom for web or audio meetings; I can offer Instant Message counselling (via VSee) or email therapy (using Protonmail).
​
Before our first session, I will send you information which will include the counselling agreement (contract) that we will make together, confirmation of session fees and ways to pay and directions to my counselling premises (if we are meeting in-person).
​
During our first session, we will look at the counselling agreement (contract) together and ensure you are comfortable with the contents, thereafter we will both sign the document.
​
Coming to counselling can feel difficult and sometimes people say they don’t feel good for a short time after a session; but therapy can be helpful when feeling painful emotions, facing difficult decisions, in order to improve or change relationships, or to help in developing a better understanding of yourself and/or others.
At its core, the aim of counselling is to help you improve your mental and emotional health - much like when people exercise or go to the gym to take care of physical health.
Counselling helps you to flex those mental muscles, giving them the attention they need, helping you to be Mind-fit as well as Body-fit.
​
To ensure that counsellors work in the best interest of our clients (that we are safe and ethical), we are required to attend clinical supervision on a monthly basis. I make brief notes on any work we do together and ensure that these are anonymised and kept safe and secure at all times. I am obliged to share aspects of my counselling work in supervision, however the identity of my clients will remain confidential during this process. My supervisor will not be personally or professionally known to you.
