Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies.  They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.

BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists)

Both counselling and psychotherapy offer the opportunity for people to talk about their problems within a safe and confidential space. 

People may seek counselling or psychotherapy for many reasons.  These may include:-  

• relationship problems.
• difficulty in adjusting to recent experiences (divorce, bereavement, redundancy).
• feeling ill at ease or discontented, whether at work, socially or within the family.
• fearing that feelings such as anger, sadness or emptiness may overwhelm you.
• depression and anxiety.
• traumas, past and present.
• stress.
• anxiety and panic attacks.
• phobias and compulsive behaviours.
• the effects of childhood abuse – physical, sexual, emotional.
• bereavement.
• sexual problems.
• eating problems.
• depression.
• personal development.
• traumatic experience.

You can book a first session with us by calling, texting or emailing us.  Charges vary depending on what kind of service that you are looking for and are typically between £40-£60 for individual and couples work and we do have some availability for concessionary rates.  A typical first session will comprise of an informal chat about what you are needing, finding out how the therapist works and deciding if the space feels comfortable for you to proceed

The aim of counselling or psychotherapy is to help people to explore their problem focusing on their own thoughts and feelings in order to work towards living in a more satisfying and resourceful way.  Individuals and couples who are having problems/difficulties sometimes find it easier to talk to someone other than close family and friends.  Counsellors and psychotherapists are trained to listen carefully and are impartial and non-judgemental.

Within the comfort and privacy of the therapy room a counsellor will:- 

• listen to you without offering opinions or interfering.
• give you time to talk and express your thoughts and feelings.
• use various techniques to help you explore the situation.
• give you the space to explore and make sense of your feelings.
• help you consider your options.
• enable you to work out the solution which is best for you.

Therapists practise in many different ways but normally the first session is for assessment or consultation.  The client will discuss their problems and expectations and the therapist will describe the way that they work.  Usually a verbal or sometimes written contract will be agreed which will set out the number and times of sessions.  This is usually reviewed regularly.  Clients’ needs are all very different so the work may be short-term or long-term.

At its most simple we might think about mindfulness as the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.  However the practice of mindfulness as a psychological process is a more deliberate act and has been found to be an effective approach to improving/enhancing mental well being.  Mark Williams the joint author of Mindfulness a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world says that

‘Mindfulness means knowing directly what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment’.

Mindfulness is a psychological technique believed to have emerged thousands of years ago.  It was only introduced to the western world in the 1980’s and seen as a natural and alternative way to manage stress, anxiety and physical illness.  It has evolved massively since the turn of the century as mindfulness based treatment approaches have proliferated and been used effectively to treat emotional issues including depression, OCD, addiction, PTSD, borderline personality disorder etc.

Mindfulness is about slowing down, noticing and paying more attention to the present moment.  This includes being aware of our own thoughts and feelings and to the world around us.  It is by making this a deliberate act that can improve our mental well being.  An important part of mindfulness is re-connecting with our bodies and recognising the many sensations that the body experiences e.g. the sights, sounds, smells and tastes around us in each moment.  It is by reconnecting with these simple dimensions in life and through living moment by moment that peace and enjoyment can be re-discovered.  Mindfulness can result in increased experience of calm and relaxation, higher energy levels to further invest in life. Increased self confidence and self acceptance and reduced vulnerability to experiencing stress, depression and anxiety.

There are many approaches/strategies that encompass mindfulness as it can simply be integrated as an approach to everyday life. However more formal strategies like mindfulness meditation can also be learned and practiced consolidating positive mental well being. 

“Even as we go about our daily lives, we can notice the sensations of things, the food we eat, the air moving past the body as we walk,” 

“All this may sound very small, but it has huge power to interrupt the ‘autopilot’ mode we often engage day to day, and to give us new perspectives on life.” 

Professor Williams