What works in therapy?
Possibly the most important element in having a successful experience of therapy is your relationship with your therapist. Research has shown that it is the single most important factor in helping your counselling to be effective.
My first aim in working with you is to encourage a positive relationship between us by providing a secure, safe and supportive environment where the issues you want to work on can be understood through an exploration of both conscious and unconscious feelings – feelings that are buried or difficult to access are just as important as those we are all too aware of feeling!
You may wish to explore distant past or recent past events or relationships. These often heavily influence how we approach our day-to-day life and how we find ourselves responding in our present day relationships with others.
Or you might want to explore destructive repeating behaviour patterns, specific difficult or traumatic events, a physical or mental health issue, or feelings of being stuck or feeling ‘not quite right’.
For some people, it can be simply enough to have a safe and confidential space in which to explore issues that are of concern with someone who wants to understand and facilitate personal growth.
Whatever issues you want to work on you will find your therapy sessions to be a place where you can explore and understand your thoughts and feelings, and where you will be supported to work towards making any changes you decide need to happen.
Research has also shown that many people find the process of finding a counsellor or psychotherapist all a bit hit and miss. There are many directories and clinics out there that can point you in the right direction, but how do you choose when there are so many therapists to choose from?!
You may wish to explore the websites of a number of therapists before choosing someone to contact. Have a look around the therapist’s website, and read any testimonials they have. You may like to ask for an ‘initial meeting’ which is an exploratory meeting between you and your prospective therapist where you can test out whether you like working with them before committing to regular sessions.
You can read testimonials from some of the many people I have worked with on the home page of this website or on my dedicated testimonials page HERE. I offer a reduced price first session so we can meet before you commit. You can find my website contact form HERE.
If you’d like to find out more about how counselling and psychotherapy works The School of Life have produced this helpful video which you can watch below. It is also available via YouTube, and is just over 7 minutes long.