How Counselling Works

Counselling is often called the talking cure, and it can be hard to believe it will really help what seem like insurmountable problems.

However, experiencing a therapeutic relationship, where what you say is listened to with respect and responded to with empathy, is in itself profoundly healing. By listening carefully to your words, a skilled therapist can offer new insights and understanding.

What the process involves

I will listen carefully and help you make sense of your feelings, thoughts and behaviours. Through comments, interpretations and clarification, I aim to help you understand yourself better and to think differently, with the aim of increasing your ability to live the life you want to lead.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy draws on a wide range of thinkers including Freud, Jung, Winnicott and Klein. It helps you understand unconscious patterns that influence your relationships, both past and present.

EMDR

EMDR (eye movement, desensitisation and reprocessing) is a different therapy developed to treat symptoms of trauma. We would discuss whether to use this alongside psychodynamic therapy. EMDR

Space to reflect

In a busy world that leaves little time for reflection, coming to therapy gives you space to explore your present situation and emotional state. Increased understanding can give us more choice on how we want to live our lives.

Present and past

It is a misconception that counselling only focuses on the past. How you feel now, how you are acting, and what has brought you to therapy are all equally important.

Open-Ended or Time-Limited Psychotherapy?

I offer both time-limited and open-ended therapy. Sessions are arranged weekly, usually at the same time, to give the work a sense of continuity and regularity.

Time-Limited Therapy

Usually 10-12 weekly sessions

The number of sessions is agreed at the beginning so it is clear when the therapy will end.

This may suit you if:

There is a clear focus to the work
A recent life event or onset of stress or anxiety has brought you to seek help
You want to talk through and make a very difficult decision

Open-Ended Therapy

The end of therapy is decided together, later in the work

When to end therapy is something we decide together as the work unfolds, rather than fixing a date at the start.

This may suit you if:

Difficulties are more long-standing or multifactorial
You need time for trust to develop