Counselling should offer you the opportunity to work with a competent confident and professional counsellor to better understand and improve those issues causing some distress in your life. It should take place in a confidential and private setting.
A Counsellor's training can vary in length and depth and it is important to check therapist's credentials (i.e. years of training and experience, issues they have experience of working with, fees charged,- which may not reflect experience and competance -,and the length of the sessions); and to confirm that they too have experienced their own in-depth personal therapy.
My own counselling training was over three years duration, and I later trained for a further four years in psychotherapy, (which included four years of personal therapy). I have also trained and qualified as a supervisor of other therapists' work.
I have learned from my own therapy journey that the 'self' we present to the world is very often not who we really are; but is something we have adapted to show to others since childhood, when it probably served us well. As an adult some of our perceptions and behaviours may no longer serve us as well and we can gain insight into this and find ways to change these patterns through the therapy relationship.
I have gained personal enrichment on this journey and I now enjoy more fulfilling relationships with others, and most importantly with myself. I know first hand the power of empathic and compassionate therapy, and this greatly informs the way in which I work.
The quality of the working relationship you can have with the therapist is very important to the success of the work. Research has shown that this relationship, more than the theoretical background of the therapist, can determine the effectiveness of therapy.
If, after the initial assessment session, we agree to work together; you will be offered further sessions as required. We will have an ongoing review our agreement and ensure that the work we are doing is of benefit to you.
Counselling is a committment in terms of time and money for you, and I want you to feel comfortable before deciding to continue. Some clients are seen on a short-term basis only, others are working on deeper issues that require more time.
It is an ethical requirement of my work, and a personal assurance, that I will not prolong therapy for longer than is necessary.
Sometimes clients end therapy prematurely, for instance due to family committments, work pressures, relocation, financial difficulties etc. We can agree to work towards this ending, rather than ending abruptly (this depends upon how long we have been working together).If you move to another area,I can assist in your finding another therapist in that area, so that you may continue to work to the same standards.
I will assure you of my continued support should you choose to take a break from therapy and will be open to resuming working with you when you feel able to do so.