Hello and welcome
There are many reasons for thinking about counselling: perhaps you’re experiencing difficulties in your relationship or maybe you are handling far too much stress or anxiety. Maybe you can’t shake off a persistent low mood and that sense of being weighed down with negative feelings.
Whatever the reason, I know that when we’re feeling tangled up, anxious and over-whelmed, talking with a qualified, experienced counsellor can help make sense of confusing thoughts and feelings because essentially counselling is about being carefully listened to. Being well listened to can help you to listen to yourself a little differently and this can bring about helpful changes in how you view the problem you are facing.
I have over 20 years’ varied experience as a counsellor, with a particular interest and expertise in grief therapy and the existential crisis that comes with terminal diagnosis.
As a Registered Member of BACP, I am committed to providing a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental environment for you to explore the issues which might be troublesome for you and for you to feel heard, valued and validated.
How long does therapy last?
Each session lasts for one hour. The number of sessions could be for an agreed time period or on an open-ended basis, but however long it takes, the aim of the therapy is always to enable you to enhance your life, to live it more fully and to face the future with courage.
As both a supervisor and as a counsellor I work from an integrative, encouragement focused approach, where encouragement and hope are central elements.
So what is an integrative approach and how can it help?
There are many different models of counselling and while my core training (1996 - 2000) was in Individual Psychology and Adlerian Counselling, which is built on the philosophical work of Alfred Adler, I have inevitably come across many other ideas and I’ve actively studied several other therapeutic models, including Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, the Person Centred approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness.
In common with many experienced counsellors who know there is much value in all of these therapeutic models, I bring together ideas from these different approaches to help create a reliable, encouraging and confidential therapeutic relationship where you can share your thoughts and feelings without being judged or criticised. Honest, open, attentive dialogue can provide the groundwork for increased understanding and insight.
Where do sessions take place?
I work in a quiet village near Carlisle in North Cumbria. As well as face to face sessions, online or telephone sessions are also available, but see "current availabiliy" for important updates. Please email me here for more information.
Cost
My fee for both supervision and counselling is £50 an hour and is payable by bank transfer. Discounted rates are available: if you are a trainee counsellor looking for a supervisor, please email me here to learn more.
Free half hour
Whether you're looking for counselling or for supervision, I offer an initial free half hour session so we can get to know each other a little and assess whether we'll be able to work together. Email me here if you'd like more information.
Confidentiality
Anything you tell me in your counselling sessions will remain strictly confidential. We will discuss this in your first session.
Supervision
Different practitioners have different supervision requirements, but the BACP state that all members using counselling skills must have a minimum of one and a half hours’ supervision each month.
I am a qualified supervisor with more than 15 years' experience of supervision. I offer supervision to trainee counsellors, counsellors who are just starting out as well as experienced practitioners. If you looking for a supervisor, please visit the Supervision page or email me directly here.
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If you're not ok and you need to talk to someone right now please phone the Samaritans
on 116 123 There is always someone there to talk to.
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Counselling is about making change possible. It can help with anxiety, stress, panic, attacks, bereavement, relationship difficulties, depression and many more issues that feel hard to deal with on your own.
photo credits: TBR unless otherwise attributed
