What is Counselling and how can it help?

“Your vision will become clearer only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakes”
— Carl Jung

How counselling works? How Counselling helps?

Counselling is a place to explore our thoughts, feelings and emotions. A chance to explore our life direction. An opportunity to pause and understand where we are and what is happening in our lives right now. It is a place to explore past and present events or traumas and a space to speak aloud thoughts that had previously been unspeakable.

The beginning stage of counselling is normally a place for you to tell your story, in a neutral space and often in full for the first time. Sometimes you will be clear about what you want to bring, what past or present events/relationship/traumas have been impacting on you and how you want to feel different. Other times you just bring a feeling that something is up and that you need help with it. In both those scenarios counselling is the perfect place to bring these struggles. If you don’t know what you want to get out of counselling or even why you are coming to a counsellor in the first place, don’t worry we will explore that together and start to put words to those feelings.

One of the key elements that makes the counselling process work is the fact that your counsellor has no knowledge or connection to your family or friends, and this point in essential. At the end of the session I could walk past your mum, dad, friend or partner and I would be none the wiser. The neutrality of this space allows you to tell your story, without concern for the person listening, in full unedited detail. Once you have told your story, together we can start to become clearer about what you want to be different at the end of the sessions. From here the work begins to help you have a better, friendlier and healthy relationship with yourself and thus with others.

Whether it’s counselling in Bristol, counselling in Nailsworth or Counselling online get in touch if you would like to book in a free 20 minute consultation with the contact me button at the bottom of this page.

How often are counselling sessions?

The first 4 sessions are weekly and after that we can find what is helpful for you. Some clients remain weekly for an indefinite period, some are fortnightly and a limited number remain with a monthly check up appointment. The answer is that it is flexible to your needs at this moment in time. One of the great things about private counselling is that you can choose exactly what is right for you today. You can make sessions weekly, pause them and restart simply by sending me an email.

What brings people to Counselling?

  • A traumatic life event

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Grief and loss

  • Stress - at work or at home

  • OCD - Obsessive Compulsive disorder

  • ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

  • PTSD - Post-traumatic stress disorder

  • A feeling that something is wrong in ones life; no idea what has caused it or how to get out of the dark place.

Areas I have a specific interest in.

I have a specific interest in the following areas:

  • Anxiety

  • Relationship issues

  • Issues effecting men

  • Dyslexia

  • Students and young people

  • Confidence and self esteem issues

Private counselling in Bristol, Nailsworth & Online - the first steps.

If counselling is something that you would like to explore please send me a message and we can arrange a free 20 minute consultation where you can ask any questions that you may have. The next step is to arrange our first session. Here I will ask you your reason for coming to counselling along with brief background of family, relationships and other significant/key life events. In our first session we will agree the following:-

  • Focus of treatment - this is not set in stone, but rather a guide or direction of travel.

  • Contract for an initial number of sessions - normally around six to eight.

  • Reviews - a chance to check in and see how the sessions are going.

  • Confidentiality - I explain what this means and what is included and excluded from this.

  • Payment details - method and cancellation policy.

  • Time and date - normally same time and day each week, but this can also be reviewed and changed if required.

I am experienced at assessing your needs and helping you make choices about what service or treatment option may be right for you at this time. If we decide not to work together, that an alternative treatment option might be more effective, then I will help you navigate the services out there to find the best next step for you.