What is Counselling
Counselling can take many forms and can consist of many different approaches, each with their own merits. Counselling can be a one-to-one experience or it can involve multiple individuals. Perhaps the one thing that is common to all approaches is the formation of a relationship between you and your Counsellor. The way the Therapeutic Relationship affects a particular Counsellor's working depends on their individual approach. Essentially the existence of some form of Therapeutic Relationship is common to all Counselling approaches. This relationship is the container for many possible ways of communication between the Counsellor and the Client. One common form of communication is talking and it is often called a 'Talking Therapy' by many. However, there are many ways in which people who come to Counselling can choose to work in the space. They are often characterised by doing, observing and exploring. These activities can take many forms from using objects to creative processes and are fully compatible with the way I work.
What Will You Experience
The workings of the Person Centred approach described here are perhaps more fully bound up with the therapeutic relationship than some others. It sees the relationship as enough in its self to provide growth. It is the depth of trust between two people in relation which can provide both the basis for therapy and the restorative factor. That is perhaps quite a simple way of seeing Counselling, but it can really be that simple. Sometimes it happens that we are not actually aware of ever relating to another person in that way. It’s something that may have been missing in our lives. Even when we’ve mostly felt supported, it often helps just to talk to someone different who is not placed in our usual circle of life and who focuses on you. Counselling can very often be an important aspect toward feeling more empowered, enlivened and in tune with our own lives and our own truths.
The underlying character of the Person Centred relationship has an emphasis on features which include honesty, trust, equality and belief. The building of an honest and trusting therapeutic relationship can open up the belief in the possibilities of personal growth. I see these core values as fundamental to the essence of the healing possibilities in Counselling.
How Long Will it Take
There is one important notion underneath this idea which is that the Counselling will need to end at some point. So right from the start it can be really important to know what form the relationship will take in terms of the number of sessions. This is a matter of choice for you and discussion between us. You may decide to review the sessions in chunks or decide on a number right from the start. It can be really helpful to have a level of certainty about when our work together will come to an end. Naturally circumstances can change and I recognise that plans need to respond to events. We will, in such cases, work out what is best for you.
Who Comes to Counselling and When
Anyone can come counselling who feels that it may be of benefit to them. Many people from many walks of life have Counselling for many different reasons. Perhaps a common factor motivating those who come to Counselling is their readiness to engage and commit to what can be a challenging process. It is often the case that many people are innately aware that the time is right for them to have Counselling.
Some Reasons That Bring People to Counselling
There are many reasons why people choose to have counselling and there are some explanations here. It may be helpful to know that others may have experiences similar to our own. Likewise, it is often helpful to focus on our individual responses to key aspects of our lives. Sometimes a less concrete and perhaps a more personal way of describing what we are experiencing is helpful. We may just feel different and not know why. Sometimes we feel unmotivated or dis-interested with life. Something may have happened such as losing a loved one and we don’t know how to carry on. We may feel hopeless or in despair. Often a resonance to a particular reason will become apparent after exploring the depth of feelings through Counselling. It can be really helpful when the way you feel is given a name and that in its self can be part of a healing process.
