“You are the person you are today due to the experiences you have had. Each experience would have shaped you in some way.”

Counselling and Psychotherapy is practiced in a variety of ways. This can depend upon various things, such as the setting, presenting issues of the client, theoretical orientation of the counsellor and numerous other factors.

There are many definitions of what counselling is, below is how best I can describe it, although not everyone may agree:

• Counselling is having a conversation, but with a purpose.

• Counselling does not mean your therapist will offer you advice, as you are the expert of you. Only you know what you feel and think, although the therapist may help you understand this.

• It is down to the therapist to meet the client where they may be on their journey, and to be able to see the world through their eyes.

• It can be a powerful and enriching experience, as the therapist will sit, listen and understand where you are on your journey through your life.

Counselling can help you to:

• Learn about yourself, offering insight and understanding into your life

• To become more self-aware by dedicating time and safe place for you to discuss your journey

• Using the awareness that you gain, to make significant changes in yourself and your life.

• The goal of counselling is determined together, by the counsellor and client, usually during the first session.

Change can be very difficult. Change is about using the awareness about yourself to perhaps change your perspective of your journey. You cannot control what may happen in your life, but you can take control on how you respond to them.

• There are stages involved in the process of change: pre-contemplation, contemplation, planning, action, maintenance.

• Counselling can be a rollercoaster journey, whereby after some sessions you may feel down. This is natural – remember you are opening the door to a room you have perhaps avoided for a long time.  Setbacks can therefore be part of the process.

• Change will not just occur from coming to the sessions, it is about taking what you learn and applying it to your life. Sometimes this can be really difficult to do, if you have been use to a specific way of being.

• To help you with this, sometimes the therapist may set homework.

If you have any further questions regarding the information provided here or anything else about the counselling journey, please do not hesitate to contact me.