About my counselling service
Hi, I’m Rachel welcome to my counselling service and thank you for taking the time to view my website. I understand that seeking counselling can seem daunting at first sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with someone who is at first a stranger. You have been very courageous in just taking the first step by starting to look for the counsellor you feel you can work with. I believe that in counselling we can work together to explore your feelings and help you find solutions in a safe non-judgemental space.
People come to counselling with a wide range of issues. Perhaps you are feeling; overwhelmed and unable to see a way through; alone with no one to share your difficulties; stressed and 'frazzled' from work; trapped or bored with your current circumstances? Are you struggling after a bereavement or the end of a relationship?
Talking to a counsellor is different to talking to well-meaning loved ones as it gives you time to fully express yourself. Loved ones may want to give you advice and fix problems for you. They may struggle to see you upset and expect you to ‘get over it’. You may feel concerned about worrying loved ones or being a burden to them. You may wish to appear stronger than you feel to support them.
Sometimes life can feel so overwhelming and you can feel so stuck and worry that no one will understand how you are feeling. You may feel anxious, depressed or that you want more control of your life. These feelings can make you feel alone with your problems and counselling can be a way to give yourself the space to explore and express these emotions without feeling rushed to get over it. Sometimes talking to someone who is not a member of your inner circle who can give you a fresh perspective. Counselling can give you space to express yourself and your feelings around experiences and to validate your feelings around these.
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Counselling can help you to use your inner resources and resilience to help you to cope. Counselling can help you to develop self-awareness and can be a powerful trigger for change in our lives. In our therapeutic relationship you will have a chance to work with someone who you can trust to keep it confidential and you will always be respected and kept safe. I will never ask you to do or talk about anything you are uncomfortable with.
At the moment, I work with adults via telephone or video counselling from anywhere in the UK. This has included people experiencing anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma, relational difficulties, and problems relating to confidence and self-esteem. In counselling, I believe that it is important to have a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe and cared for as this will allow you to express and explore all your thoughts and feelings. This safe therapeutic relationship can help to empower you and to raise your self-awareness and confidence. To learn more about my feelings on the therapeutic relationship please see the section about how I work (my approach to therapy).