When thinking about whether you need counselling, it might be helpful to ask yourself a number of questions. If you can answer 'yes' to one or more it may indicate that counselling could help:

Are my relationships beginning to suffer?
Do I feel anxious/depressed/troubled for a significant amount of the time?
Do I often feel like or find myself crying?
Do I often feel overwhelmed by life or the particular problem I have?
Do I often feel confused and find making decisions difficult?
Am I drinking more to help me cope with things?
Do I often have trouble sleeping or often wake up in the early hours of the morning?
Is my eating affected?Am I eating less/more?

I offer Person Centred Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for a wide variety of issues. I use an integrative approach of both models

CBT is a type of psychotherapy, person centred approach is counselling. They are very different. CBT is a very directive approach and is very much a collaborative way of working  CBT focuses on the problems and difficulties you have now, rather than your past. It looks for practical ways you can improve your state of mind. CBT can help you see how your thoughts effect your behaviour, which in turn relate to the way you feel, and how this might contribute to problems in your life.

As your therapist, we will work together to find ways to change your thought patterns and behaviour so you can cope with your problems and anxieties better. I will aim to educate you and give you handouts on your specific issue(s) I will also set homework for you to do between sessions.

CBT cannot remove your problems, but can help you to manage them in a more positive way. CBT is thought to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. CBT involves weekly or fortnightly sessions. The number of sessions required varies greatly depending on your problems and objectives, with treatment usually lasting from six weeks to six months.

Person Centred Counselling (PCC) is a talking therapy. Counselling offers you the opportunity to explore your feelings, thoughts and concerns in a safe confidential environment where you won’t be judged. By taking an open approach to what you are experiencing in your life, I will help you to examine what is happening.

Counselling can be just a few sessions but most people find they want to continue over several weeks or months. This depends on your individual situation. It is always your choice to make and I will discuss this with you before and during your course of therapy.

You don’t have to commit in advance to anything beyond our first meeting. Choosing a counsellor is a very important decision, and you need to feel comfortable with whoever you choose.

I work hard to create an environment where my clients will find it easy to talk to me and will, over time, develop a trust in me. Sometimes it helps prospective clients to have a short chat on the telephone before committing to an appointment, other clients like to chat by email before making a decision. There are many counsellors from many different backgrounds and it is your right to choose one that best meets your particular needs.

Each client is special and unique and I work at your own pace to suit your individual needs, whether this is for a couple of sessions or more long term therapy. Whatever the problem, we work together, step by step with trust, respect and sometimes humour, to achieve your goals and build confidence and self-esteem. In the majority of cases, you can expect to feel better and make progress, from the very first session.

When you come to see me, you can expect to be given the opportunity to:

Examine the things that are important to you, the things that make your life meaningful.
Identify behaviours, attitudes, and ways of looking at the world that help you achieve the things that are important in your life, and those that get in the way of you achieving these things.
Make your own choices, based on what you discover.
What I will not do

Diagnose you with an ‘illness’ or identify ‘symptoms’ – a very wide range of human thought, behaviour and emotion is normal, and labelling you or your way of being in the world as ‘different’ or ‘abnormal’ is never helpful.
Tell you how to live your life – there is no one ‘right way’ to live. My approach helps you work out how you want to live in line with your values, and gives you the courage to take steps towards this outcome.
Insist on you making massive changes – you might decide to make some changes in your life, or you might decide not to make any changes. Often my clients find that the inward changes in their emotions, attitudes and ideas are enough to allow them to deal with the challenges they face.
First of all remember that seeing a counsellor doesn't mean that there is something wrong with you.   People usually bring a specific issue that they need help in understanding or resolving, this can potentially open up other factors that they were unconsciously aware of.