Clients meet a professional counsellor in a private and confidential setting in order to explore areas of distress that may be troubling them. In sessions you are given the freedom to talk openly, enabling new insights and understanding to emerge.
The counsellor provides an environment in which the client feels respected, listened to, affirmed and accepted. Although sometimes it may be appropriate to offer advice or guidance, the emphasis is very much on enabling you to achieve change rather than on telling you what to do.
Counselling varies in length from short to long term depending on the needs and wishes of the client. People come with an enormous variety of concerns but some of the issues that are commonly dealt with in counselling are:-
stress
anxiety
depression
addiction
abuse
changes in circumstances such as bereavement, loss, illness, divorce
relationship difficulties
low self esteem/confidence
work issues
self harm
the search for meaning/direction in life
Counselling is a process that is psychologically empowering, improving self-esteem, confidence and self-awareness. It enables us to discover more about ourselves and our inner resources. For many people it leads to deeper, more authentic and rewarding relationships with others.
Clients may come on the recommendation of a GP or a friend or relative. Life throws up incredible challenges for us all and many people have experienced counselling as enormously helpful in enabling them to manage these changes and to move forward in whatever way is appropriate for them.
