Our time together begins with an initial free consultation, usually by telephone, where we can both ask questions and decide whether to begin therapy. If we agree that therapy would be worthwhile, we will arrange a date for our first session, either at a later date or immediately if needed.
In the therapy sessions:
· I will explain to you why you are experiencing your symptoms and how to deal with them.
· I will not use jargon or ‘psychobabble’ or tell you that counselling or psychotherapy has to be ‘painful’.
· I will not dwell unduly on the past.
· I will be supportive when difficult feelings emerge, but won’t encourage you to get emotional beyond the normal need to ‘let go’ of bottled up feelings.
· I will help immediately with anxiety problems such as panic attacks, nightmares, post traumatic stress, phobias and trauma.
· I understand depression and how to lift it.
· I will help you to both draw on and build upon your own inner resources (which may prove greater than you think).
· I may assist you to develop your social skills so that your need for affection, friendship, pleasure, intimacy, connection to a wider community etc can be fulfilled.
· I will be considerate of the effects of counselling on the people close to you.
· I may teach you to relax deeply.
· I will help you to think about your problems in new and more empowering ways.
· I will use a wide range of techniques as appropriate.
· I may ask you to do things between sessions.
· I will take as few sessions as possible.
· I will increase your self-confidence and independence and make sure you feel better after every consultation.
In the therapy sessions:
· I will explain to you why you are experiencing your symptoms and how to deal with them.
· I will not use jargon or ‘psychobabble’ or tell you that counselling or psychotherapy has to be ‘painful’.
· I will not dwell unduly on the past.
· I will be supportive when difficult feelings emerge, but won’t encourage you to get emotional beyond the normal need to ‘let go’ of bottled up feelings.
· I will help immediately with anxiety problems such as panic attacks, nightmares, post traumatic stress, phobias and trauma.
· I understand depression and how to lift it.
· I will help you to both draw on and build upon your own inner resources (which may prove greater than you think).
· I may assist you to develop your social skills so that your need for affection, friendship, pleasure, intimacy, connection to a wider community etc can be fulfilled.
· I will be considerate of the effects of counselling on the people close to you.
· I may teach you to relax deeply.
· I will help you to think about your problems in new and more empowering ways.
· I will use a wide range of techniques as appropriate.
· I may ask you to do things between sessions.
· I will take as few sessions as possible.
· I will increase your self-confidence and independence and make sure you feel better after every consultation.
