FAQs
What is Counselling/Therapy?
Counselling and Therapy are really one in the same term. They both refer to a service which aims to help people overcome their difficulties by exploring them with a therapist or counsellor and coming to a place where the individual feels satisfied and more at ease with their daily life.
What is Person-Centred Counselling?
There are many different types of therapy but the method which I follow and am trained in is Person-Centred counselling. This model believes that the client has the resources within themselves to get to where they need and that we all have a natural growth towards fulfillment and development. The Counsellors job is to offer a place and the conditions for this to happen most effectively and look at areas or feelings which may be damaging the client’s well-being.
Person-Centred Counsellors do not offer advice or solutions to people, but instead offer a safe and confidential space for the client to explore whatever they need and help them to come to the places which they desire. The fact that counsellors do not offer advice emphasizes the control of the client in a counselling relationship. You make the decisions and plan the course and content of the therapy, and most importantly at your own speed.
What can I expect from our work together?
As a Counsellor, I will be empathic towards your feelings and life. Put simply, this means that I will try to understand and share some of the difficulties which you talk about in our sessions. This way we are both on the journey together during the counselling sessions and explore the emotions which are inside to get a better understanding and grasp of what is going on for you.
I will not be judgmental of you or your position and think it is very important that I value each individual that comes for counselling. Every person is different and has very many different values and needs. There are no right and wrong ways, just your way, and I think it is equally important to respect this and be able to freely explore what you desire.
What type of things can be brought to Counselling?
In a nutshell, anything. There are no set issues for counselling that must or should be brought. Whatever you feel needs dealing with, is obviously an important area for you to explore and counselling provides the setting to do this. Some people worry that their problems are too big or too small to bring to counselling but I believe that if you feel it is an issue, then it is important to spend some time looking at it. I have had experience with a wide variety of issues and always try to offer the conditions needed for you to feel ready and comfortable to talk about what you need, when you need.
How much do you charge?
Each session is charged at £30 for 50 minutes.
How long are the sessions and how often do we meet?
The sessions last 50 minutes each and are usual on a weekly basis. As always, this can be discussed but this has been shown to be the most effective way for the majority of people to use counselling.
How many sessions will I need?
Each person is different and the amount of sessions depends entirely on you. Usually people come to counselling until they feel like they may be able to get on without it or some people want to set a certain amount of sessions from the first time we meet. Both of these ways and any other way is fine and as like all other aspects of counselling, you call the shots.
I’m worried you will tell other people about what we talk about
I strongly follow a confidentiality pact in our contract. This basically means that I won't share any of the content of our sessions together unless I feel that you or anyone else is in serious danger. I also see a supervisor once a month where I discuss my work as a Counsellor but your identity will not be disclosed.
Where are you based?
The rooms are based in both Preston and Blackpool. Maps are available on the contact page
I'm still a bit reluctant to start counselling and not sure if it’s for me, what do you suggest?
I think that explaining counselling and its ways can be very difficult and sometimes it is just a case of getting a sense of counselling first hand and using the time in your own way. There are never any pressures to talk about things you don't want to and you are in control of what we do with our time together. In the first session we can take some time to discuss our work together and have a talk about some of the issues which are troubling you and made you take the first steps towards counselling.
The start of Therapy can be a very daunting prospect, but I also believe in what a great change it can make. If you are still unsure about meeting face to face then feel free to use the contact details on the site to ask any questions or get in touch to discuss any further areas which may help your decision.
