How I practice

My core training is in person-centred counselling and this is how I will approach the start of your counselling journey with our initial sessions being non-directive. I offer a safe and comfortable space for you to talk and to explore any issues you may be experiencing or recent life changes you are faced with. At this stage my role is not to offer advice or to provide a fix, but to work with you to understand your feelings and behaviours and potentially offer a different perspective.

For many people this may be enough and may be what you are looking for. A space to work through your thoughts, feelings and behaviours or an opportunity to explore how past experiences are impacting your day to day life. Alternatively, you may wish to talk through some coping mechanisms or ways in which you can change your thought patterns and I am happy to explore this too. I have experience working with CBT and hold an interest in solution focussed therapy but will always discuss these options with you so that you can decide what is right for you.

Person-centred counselling

This type of psychotherapy focuses on maximising the client’s ability to find their own solutions with the right amount of support. The practice requires the counselling therapist to understand how the world works from the client’s point of view to enable them to see the issues they are facing from their perspective. Whilst there may be times where the client wishes to look at past events, the initial focus will be on what is happening for the client in the present. The non-directive nature of therapy encourages clients to be less dependent on the therapist for answers. Instead, they become more self-aware and learn to understand themselves better. They’re not seen as patients who are sick and in need of a cure, but as clients responsible for finding solutions and making changes in and for themselves.