Is counselling for me?
Counselling might be beneficial for you if…
- Something has been troubling you over a period of time and you’re having difficulty finding a solution on your own.
- Things are getting on top of you, and affecting your well being, for example, causing depression, anxiety or stress.
- You find it hard to talk to friends or family because they are directly involved in the issues.
- Issues from the past are having an impact on your day to day life.
- Things that are troubling you are having a negative impact on your relationships or work.
How could counselling benefit me?
- Talking to someone neutral, outside of your immediate situation, can show you a different perspective and help you find a way forward.
- Talking with a trained counsellor who is skilled at listening can help you to process difficult thoughts and feelings.
- Sharing your worries helps you feel less alone with the problem.
- You can gain a better understanding of yourself and a clearer sense of what you want and need.
- You can practice communicating more clearly and honestly in the safety of the counselling relationship.
- Counselling can help improve your relationships and your ability to communicate.
If you’re still not sure, the best way for things to become clearer is to book an initial session with a counsellor. That way you can find out more about how counselling works and the counsellor can help you decide if it would be useful for your particular situation.
What happens on the first session?
I understand that seeing a counsellor for the first time can cause some anxiety. This is very normal. I hope the following will give you some idea about what to expect during our first meeting.
The free initial chat is there to give you an idea of what counselling is. It offers an opportunity to talk about and establish what it is you would like to resolve and to find out if therapy could be helpful for you. This is also a time in which we agree on the suitability for long or short-term therapy. The first chat usually lasts for about 15-20 minutes.
Areas that are often covered may include a brief family history, current situation, relationships, and medical or psychiatric history that may be relevant. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions or raise any concerns you may have before making a commitment.
More importantly, this initial session is designed for you to decide if you can work with me. If you feel at all uncomfortable or find that this is not for you, then it may be worth looking around until you find what suits you. It is important that you feel genuinely happy.
If we agree to work together, we will discuss practicalities such as cancellations, fees, confidentiality and the general rules that both client and counsellor must abide by.
Are the sessions confidential?
Yes
