Counselling Philosophy & Approach - I work with adults, couples, families and young people
Most people have times in their lives when they have difficulty coping. Counselling can help you to explore your thoughts and feelings and think about patterns of behaviour which have caused difficulty in your life, working towards understanding, finding solutions and ways forward.
Formal counselling, as opposed to the use of counselling skills, is a contractual relationship between therapist and client, where an appropriately qualified practitioner uses therapeutic interventions based upon recognised counselling and psychotherapy theory in order to bring about changes in the clients life.
I am an integrative counsellor, drawing on three main counselling theories; psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural therapy. As a practitioner I blend together elements from each approach in order to meet the needs of each individual client, depending upon what each client brings to counselling and wants to achieve.
Confidentiality
What you discuss with me will remain confidential unless it was felt that someone might come to harm. There are other rare exceptions, all counsellors are required to observe when confidentiality cannot be assured, and these will be discussed at the first session. In line with BACP requirements my practice is supervised by a senior practitioner. My work with clients requesting cognitive behavioural therapy is supervised by a BABCP (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapists) Accredited Practitioner. Client confidentiality is maintained within my supervision.
Ethics
I am a British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist and my practice is guided by the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Timescales
I offer long term and short term counselling. I have undergone training in focal brief therapy and solution focused brief therapy at the University of Birmingham, and I am therefore, able to offer timescales to suit the needs of each individual client.
Assessment Appointment
The initial session is an assessment appointment. This is a 50 minute session in which we will explore your situation, what changes you would like to make and whether we feel we can work together. It is an opportunity for you to ask questions about the therapeutic process.
If we decide to work together we will agree a contract which will include date and time of sessions, cost of sessions, the focus for our work together and timescales. In long-term work, periodic reviews will built into therapy.
