How Counselling can help
Counselling aims to help you deal with and overcome issues that are causing emotional pain or making you feel uncomfortable. It can provide a safe and regular space for you to talk and explore difficult feelings. The counsellor is there to support you and respect your views. They won't usually give advice, but will help you find your own insights into and understanding of your problems. By discussing your concerns with you, the counsellor can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, as well as identifying ways of finding your own solutions to problems.

Counselling can help you:

• *   cope with a bereavement
• *   repair or come to terms with a relationship breakdown
• *   cope with redundancy, retirement or work-related stress
• *   deal with weight issues or eating disorders and the underlying causes
• *   deal with issues preventing you achieving your ambitions
• *   deal with feelings of depression or sadness, and find a more positive outlook on life
• *   deal with feelings of anxiety, helping you worry less about things
• *   understand yourself and your problems better
• *   develop a better understanding of other people's points of view
• *   explore issues such as sexual identity

What to expect from counselling

It can be a great relief to share your worries and fears with someone who acknowledges your feelings and is able to help you reach a positive solution. Counselling can take place face to face individually or in a group; over the phone; by email or by Skype or FaceTime. You may be offered counselling as a single session, as a short course of sessions over a few weeks or months, or as a longer course that lasts for several months or years.

Counselling sessions

An initial assessment is followed by one hourly sessions to be agreed between us. We will connect regularly at a mutually agreed time for one hour, and together assess the therapeutic work, how it is helping and what needs to be addressed. Counselling can be arranged by a personal meeting or by phone, Skype or FaceTime, Messenger, WhatsApp.