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About my counselling service
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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).
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What platforms can you offer counselling on?I will offer online counselling sessions on the secure software of zoom. Although we can discuss the use of other platforms if zoom does not work for you. I have webcam facilities and I am happy to have online sessions via video calls or counselling sessions on a mobile telephone, whichever you feel more comfortable with.
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What will the first session be like?The first session may take up to 60 minutes as this session will be more structured where I ask you questions about what has brought you to counselling and what you hope to gain from counselling. There will be a chance for you to ask any questions you have, and I will be able to advise you on what I can help you with. The first session will also help you to get a sense of the therapy and see if it feels right for you and if you feel I am the right therapist to support you. There is no obligation to book further sessions.
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How long does a Session last?The initial session will take at least 60 minutes, as that will give us time to discuss your issues in details. Counselling session will last up to 50 minutes and then we will have a 10 minute coolong down period to help you adjust to returning to the normal world from your sessions.
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How many sessions will I need?There is no definitive answer as to how many therapy sessions you will need. It depends on what you ÂÂwant to work on and what you as an individual need. I am happy to work in the short-term in a more solution focused way. I am also happy to work with individuals for long term therapy to help them to look at the impact of their past on their current lives. Counselling is a gradual process and the time people need in therapy can vary between individuals. Although it isn’t a quick fix or a magic cure all the benefits of counselling are long lasting some examples of these are empowerment, resilience and self-awareness.
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How will we monitor progress and know when to finish counselling?I will make sure to have regular reviews with clients every 6 weeks where we discuss the journey they have been on and if they feel they need more therapy. The important thing is that it is your choice when we finish. I will let you know if I feel the therapeutic work has ended but I think we can work together to make the ending as comfortable and empowering as possible.