What counselling can help with:

Many clients tell me the difference counselling makes for them is having someone outside of family and friends who cares for them, listens with interest and attention, but is not personally involved with them.

Clients often have said, even though they have a good support network, they do not wish to burden those close to them with their own difficulties and distress.

Sometimes we need a space just for us where there is no expectation to reciprocate the support offered; where we can talk freely without fear of judgment, or expectations of the other person for us to behave a certain way.

‘When the other person is hurting, confused, troubled, anxious, alienated, terrified; or when he or she is doubtful of self-worth, uncertain as to identity, then understanding is called for’

(Rogers, 1980, pp. 160-1)

Counselling can offer us a time just for ourselves to focus on what is unsettling, puzzling, disturbing, frustrating or frightening. If we are confused and stuck, going over and over the same difficulties in our head, counselling can offer a chance to externalise these thoughts and explore the feelings and personal meanings.

I can help you make sense of the confusion so you can make some order out of the muddle. I can help you gain clarity of what is the root of the problem and what might be keeping the problem going in the present.

Through building a therapeutic relationship together, counselling with can help clarify what matters most to you- who you are and who you can be.

“In my early professional years, I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth?”

(Rogers, 1961, p.32)

My main areas of experience and interest are working with clients who are experiencing:

• loss and bereavement

death of a loved one, plus secondary losses of your ‘cheer leader’ and companion, changing roles and responsibilities, reduced sense of safety and confidence; living with sadness and unfinished business when others may expect you to be just as you were before

• life stage issues

for instance parenting and maternity, aging process, the pain and confusion of ‘empty nest’ along with guilt and an unfamiliar routine

• identity, sexuality and gender issues

coming out in sexuality, exploring gender diversity and difference to what was assigned at birth, living as a minority and living with microaggressions, prejudice and abuse

• existential issues

How has the 'old me' gone? Who am I now? Who will I be? What is my purpose?

• redundancy, retirement and unemployment

perhaps processing feelings of shock, fear, worry, guilt, shame, living with change and uncertainty

• work-related stress and distress

workload, work-life balance, bullying, threat of job loss, dissatisfaction, exploring decision-making for changes in direction

• long term health conditions

(e.g. impacts on your sense of self, your energy, motivation and priorities through living with diagnoses of ME, MS, fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart conditions, eczema, for instance )

• life limiting health issues and palliative issues

e.g. adjusting to living with your own health issues or those of a loved one, for instance cancer, MS, dementia, strokes

• disability and living with sensory losses

living in an inaccessible and non-inclusive world; changes in abilities and independence

neurodivergence (particularly being autistic or an ADHDer)

living with the stresses and challenges of being in a neurotypical world and finding your own way

• sexual abuse

the impact on you and how you see yourself and the world as a result of your experiences

• domestic or intimate partner abuse

the impact on you and how you see yourself and the world as a result of your experiences

• decision-making

helping you explore areas of confusion or concern, giving you space to feel more confident with what is best for you

• Personal development

during further counselling training and for senior accreditation; for working on continuous improvement and increased self-awareness, perhaps building on the achievements you have made through previous therapy

What counselling can help with:

Many clients tell me the difference counselling makes for them is having someone outside of family and friends who cares for them, listens with interest and attention, but is not personally involved with them.

Clients often have said, even though they have a good support network, they do not wish to burden those close to them with their own difficulties and distress.

Sometimes we need a space just for us where there is no expectation to reciprocate the support offered; where we can talk freely without fear of judgment, or expectations of the other person for us to behave a certain way.

‘When the other person is hurting, confused, troubled, anxious, alienated, terrified; or when he or she is doubtful of self-worth, uncertain as to identity, then understanding is called for’

(Rogers, 1980, pp. 160-1)

I can help you make sense of the confusion so you can make some order out of the muddle. I can help you gain clarity of what is the root of the problem and what might be keeping the problem going in the present.

Through building a therapeutic relationship together, counselling with can help clarify what matters most to you- who you are and who you can be.

“In my early professional years, I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth?”

(Rogers, 1961, p.32)

My main areas of experience and interest are working with clients who are experiencing:

• loss and bereavement

death of a loved one, plus secondary losses of your ‘cheer leader’ and companion, changing roles and responsibilities, reduced sense of safety and confidence; living with sadness and unfinished business when others may expect you to be just as you were before

• life stage issues

for instance parenting and maternity, aging process, the pain and confusion of ‘empty nest’ along with guilt and an unfamiliar routine

• identity, sexuality and gender issues

coming out in sexuality, exploring gender diversity and difference to what was assigned at birth, living as a minority and living with microaggressions, prejudice and abuse

• existential issues

How has the 'old me' gone? Who am I now? Who will I be? What is my purpose?

• redundancy, retirement and unemployment

perhaps processing feelings of shock, fear, worry, guilt, shame, living with change and uncertainty

• work-related stress and distress

workload, work-life balance, bullying, threat of job loss, dissatisfaction, exploring decision-making for changes in direction

• long term health conditions

(e.g. impacts on your sense of self, your energy, motivation and priorities through living with diagnoses of ME, MS, fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart conditions, eczema, for instance )

• life limiting health issues and palliative issues

e.g. adjusting to living with your own health issues or those of a loved one, for instance cancer, MS, dementia, strokes

• disability and living with sensory losses

living in an inaccessible and non-inclusive world; changes in abilities and independence

neurodivergence (particularly being autistic or an ADHDer)

living with the stresses and challenges of being in a neurotypical world and finding your own way

• sexual abuse

the impact on you and how you see yourself and the world as a result of your experiences

• domestic or intimate partner abuse

the impact on you and how you see yourself and the world as a result of your experiences

• decision-making

helping you explore areas of confusion or concern, giving you space to feel more confident with what is best for you

• Personal development

during further counselling training and for senior accreditation; for working on continuous improvement and increased self-awareness, perhaps building on the achievements you have made through previous therapy