Are counselling and psychotherapy effective?
Many have gained a great deal through therapy and it is not for everyone. Your partner, your mother, your friend, others generally including your counsellor/therapist may want to help you but undertaking getting to know yourself has to ultimately come from you. Courage, curiosity and a sense of responsibility towards your own development are needed.
There is no magic and it can be hard going at times. Although I am trained to support those suffering from emotional pain or anxiety and make this more bearable - there are no quick fix solutions.
Talking to a skilled listener can help you to a deeper experience and understanding of your current situation and your inner life. The mutual therapeutic process can bring new insights and importantly a wider range of choices can then become available to you. It is possible to let go of old patterns and complexes. Some do not leave us but we learn to be less possessed by them, to hold them so they are not cut off from the soulful authority of our heart. Therapy does give us an opportunity to bring the separate or conflicting parts of ourselves together. New possibilities are born.
How do I get started?
Besides trusting someone with your hopes and fears, the process also involves a significant investment of time and money from you.
In studies, irrespective of therapeutic approach, the success of therapy is frequently noted as determined by the quality of relationship that is developed between therapist and client.
There are many therapists to choose from. I suggest that initially we speak briefly on the telephone to discuss what you are looking for at this time and my approach. This would also be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have. The next step is meeting up and getting a sense of whether the two of us are a good match. Come along and see if you will be able to trust me.
To help you decide I recommend two initial meetings. This is an opportunity for us to gauge how we would work together. During this evaluation period we will look in more detail at your needs and whether your expectations and my way of working are compatible. I will ask you about your past and present history. These sessions give you time to check me out and decide if counselling or psychotherapy is indeed what you want, whether I am the right person and you can ask me any questions that may arise. If we decide not to continue I can help you consider alternative options. All information you offer will be treated confidentially and there is no obligation to continue.
If we agree to go ahead we will begin by working together for six weeks and then will review the process.
What is short term therapy?
Usually this involves six or eight sessions within which it is possible to recognise modest and achievable goals. Valid work is sometimes done in less. In short term therapy you will be looking at one aspect of your life or a single event. There is the opportunity to explore a period of stress or crisis that needs to be contained. We will stay with what is vital and realistic to achieve. There will be a continual monitoring of the process and the work will be more structured.Short term work is also a good way to try out counselling.
And long term therapy?
In longer-term work you will be exploring underlying patterns, emotional issues and unresolved conflicts that have been ongoing. It is difficult to say how long it will take. It depends on you, your situation and what you need.
In on-going work regular reviews are used to help to keep the work that we are doing relevant.
When do I come?
I offer day and early evening weekday appointments. Sessions to begin with, if possible, are on a regular weekly basis, usually an appointment is arranged at the same time and day of each week. Some people prefer to come twice a week.
Where?
I work at the Old Convent, Beches Green. This is a few minutes walk from the centre of Stroud and there is parking nearby. Check directions.
What are the fees?
I charge £40 per hour for Individuals and Couple Counselling is £50 per hour. I do have some places for those in financial hardship who need a reduced fee.