How counselling helps
This journey of life is anything but predictable and sometimes when things happen to us or around us, we struggle to make sense of our feelings and finding our way towards a more fulfilling life can seem unattainable or even impossible. Counselling can help you identify, explore and manage how you feel, and it can enable you to move forward positively. Counselling can empower you to understand yourself and your processes in the context of your whole life from childhood to the present day, some of which may have been unconscious or out of your awareness. Counselling can enable you to make changes, learn new ways to manage/cope and can have wider benefits on your family, relationships, social and work life. Counselling can be a very profound and powerful experience within a relationship and environment that is safe and confidential. I consider it an honour and a privilege to journey with you on your exploration of self-discovery and self-awareness.
How I work briefly and some questions you may be asking yourself
I work in an integrative way combining the person-centred approach with psychodynamic insight. This means that you decide how much/how little you share with me and sessions will progress at your pace so that you feel comfortable. I am interested in how your history has affected and impacts your life today, perhaps from an unconscious perspective. This can be a way for us to gain awareness into some feelings, attitudes and behaviours that you would like to address.
Do you find yourself repeating unhelpful old patterns of behaviour?
Do you repeatedly attract the same types of unhealthy relationships?
Do you feel stuck, low, anxious, afraid, alone, confused or stressed as a result of depression, relationships, abuse, self-harm, childhood trauma, loss or work?
Are these feelings impacting your social, emotional and psychological well-being and hindering you from living a fulfilling life?
Have traumatic experiences overwhelmingly impacted your life or conversely left you feeling numb?
Do you struggle to regulate, manage or locate your emotions?
Have your own or someone else’s gambling difficulties negatively affected your life?
Have you lost your sense of self or never really known who you are other than to be how others want you to be?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above then I could work with you by providing a comfortable and confidential space for you to talk openly, free from judgement. I aim to view and understand your world through your eyes in order to really know you and through our relationship enable you to feel confident and safe enough to share (in your own time) your whole self. This could include giving a voice to parts of you that perhaps feel vulnerable, ashamed, ignored or angry.
Other common subjects that can be explored in counselling
(this is not an exhaustive list).
- Abortion
- Affairs and betrayals
- Bullying
- Domestic violence
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Relationship problems
- Sex problems
- Stress
- Work-related stress
- Abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Emotional abuse
- Low self-esteem
- Phobias
- Self-harm
- Sexual abuse
- Suicidal thoughts
- Addiction(s)
- Bereavement
- Dissociation
- Family issues
- Low self-confidence
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Physical abuse
- Separation and divorce
- Sexuality
- Trauma
What to expect/fees
When you contact me, we will arrange a free 15-20 minute phone conversation to give us the opportunity to discuss your reasons for seeking counselling. We will then arrange a session that is convenient for you to explore your concerns and what it is you seek from counselling. The first session will encompass an initial assessment to gather some information, however at this stage there is no obligation to continue-you can take some time to reflect on our first session and decide whether you would like to book further sessions.
If you do decide that you would like us to work together then sessions usually occur weekly at the same time. Notice of cancellation must be given with at least 48 hours’ notice or the full fee will be charged. Sessions last 50 minutes (known as the counselling hour) and cost £55 per session. I offer discounts for counselling students and a reduction in price if block bookings of six sessions are purchased in advance, this works out at £300, making each session £50. Additionally I offer extended sessions of 90 minutes at £80 per session.
My primary practice is in Brighouse and secondary practice in Huddersfield, with easy access from surrounding areas.
Qualifications
- Advanced Diploma in Counselling Level 4
- First Class BSc (Hons) Counselling Studies
- Access to HE Diploma (Combined Studies)
- Certificate in Specialist Training Working with Sexual Trauma
- Certificate in Specialist Training Couple Counselling
- Certificate in
specialist Training Eating Disorders and Addictions - Gambling Addiction Training
- Relaxation, Mindfulness and Visualisations training
- Certificate in Understanding Behaviour that Challenges
- Certificate in Understanding Dignity in Safeguarding
- Certificate in Understanding Autism
- Suicide Training
