It is actually quite difficult, if not impossible, for me to say how I will work with you. This is because each session with each client is unique. What follows is a flavour of how I work as a counsellor. I talk a bit about my training and influences on my practice and I describe how and why I might use these in my practice as a counsellor. But, before any of that I want to mention the relationship between client and counsellor.

The Client-Counsellor Relationship

The relationship between client and counsellor is the most important aspect of successful counselling. In order for therapy to work at all, you must feel able to trust me and so I make every effort for that to happen. I am open and honest but never unkind or judgemental and I value and respected my clients. I am very attentive and always try to see things from your point of view and to truly understand how it feels to be you. This “tuning in” allows me to work closely with you. Only then can my training and experience help you understand both why you are having difficulties and how to move your life forward.

Training and influences on my practice

My training has included Person Centred Counselling and Psychodynamic Therapy. I have also taken courses in Transactional Analysis, Mindfulness, complex trauma, interpersonal trauma, sexuality and gender, and suicide prevention. Always ready to learn, I have read widely on various schools of counselling.

So, what does this mean for you?

It means that I can draw on a diverse portfolio of psychological theories if required. On saying this, I am primarily a Person Centred counsellor but I do incorporate some aspects of the other therapies and philosophies I’ve studied. I will only bring these other influences into therapy if I genuinely believe you will benefit.

What Person Centred Counselling offers

In person centred therapy the sessions are client led. This means that I follow your lead and, through tuning in, get an understanding of what it feels like to be you. I am open about how your way of being affects me and this can help you understand how you affect others. Through this you can build an understanding of you in relation to other people and how difficulties in these relationships can arise.

A tenet of person centred theory is that you actually know what is best for you. However, because of conditions of worth placed on you by significant others, it may be difficult for you to acknowledge that part of you. A goal of therapy is for you to learn to trust in your own abilities. It is important to realise when working with me that the solution to your problem comes from you. As a result, you become better equipped to handle future issues that might present themselves.

What the other therapies offer

When working more psychodynamically, I may encourage you to explore the relationships with significant people from your past. From this you can learn who and what shaped you as a person and how that shaping affects you today. This can help you discover the reason you feel like you do.

There is a lot more to Psychodynamic Therapy than this but, for me, Person Centred theory offers parallel theories that cover most of what I use.

I will use psycho-education if it feels appropriate and for this I will draw from any source I’ve studied. A good example of this would be the PAC model from Transactional Analysis. It teaches clients how some relationships in their life seem to follow a pattern of behaviour that causes them anxiety.

I sometimes use an aspect of mindfulness that helps clients relax. If your state of anxiety means your thoughts are racing this makes it difficult for therapy to be effective. I may then use this guided relaxation technique to calm your mind so you can better engage in therapy.

This is not a comprehensive description of my therapeutic practice but is designed to give you some idea of what I am like as a counsellor.

Ethical framework behind my practice

It is important to note that I work within an ethical framework. The ethics that I am bound by were an important part of my training. They ensure that my clients’ best interests and wellbeing are at the very core of my practice. They are enshrined on the COSCA website and you can read them here.

If you feel that I have breached this ethical framework or have given you reason make a complaint against me, COSCA has a complaints procedure you can use. You can read about how to make a complaint here.