FAQs About Counselling
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Counselling is usually shorter term and may be 6 - 20 sessions and it tends to focus on a more immediate life issue, for example, a particular relationship difficulty. I would seek to help you talk about your situation, and to clarify your feelings. Often the chance to talk to someone who is independent of your social circle and who can offer a different perspective, is helpful in determining the best way forward.
Psychotherapy is usually longer term and can be several months to several years. Most often a particular experience prompts the first contact, for example a bereavement, a redundancy, abuse, intense anxiety, stress, panic attacks, anger or disappointment.
Yet people also come when they are not sure what has gone wrong, and may not have the words to describe the trouble they are in or the emotions they are feeling. It is as if they have lost all confidence and their self esteem has ebbed away.
A Psychodynamic counsellor/psychotherapist is trained to look beyond the presenting issue to a possible underlying cause. We cannot change the past, but pain can be made easier to bear with a process of listening and understanding ourselves.
Email me on my contact page to arrange for your FREE 20 minute video or telephone consultation.
WILL I NEED TO PAY FOR THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT?
Yes, the initial assessment is charged at the session rate. But you can email me, contact me below or call me on 07961 818785 to arrange for your FREE 20 minute telephone consultation, so that you can decide for yourself if I am the right therapist for you.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON MY FIRST APPOINTMENT?
You can expect a safe, confidential place for you to talk, without fear of being judged or told what to do. A space where you can talk about the issues that you want to talk about and to ask any questions you may have about the therapy.
WILL I BE GIVEN ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO?
Counselling and Psychotherapy is facilitative not prescriptive. The intention being not to prescribe solutions but to assist you in examining your difficulties and the choices you have for dealing with those difficulties. With confidentiality and respect for your own perceptions of your experiences, you will be supported and guided towards your own solutions which you feel work for you.
The initial meeting is a chance for you to see if you feel you can work with me as your therapist. A number of sessions may be agreed upon or possibly the time scale is left open ended with a view to review in a set number of weeks. Counselling is usually short term (6 to 20 weeks). Psychotherapy is longer and open ended with regular reviews and can be several months to several years.