We all experience times in our lives when we find things difficult. You might be lonely, or anxious, or sad. Or you might have things in your life you're unhappy about and would like to change, such as a lack of self-confidence or the pain of unhappy memories. Perhaps you might even be experiencing the results of trauma, bereavement or abuse. You might be angry or confused.
Counselling is when a qualified and trained counsellor sees a person in a confidential setting and uses therapeutic techniques to allow the person to explore and come to understand their problems. This may enable the person to make beneficial changes.
Counselling sessions take place in a place that offers privacy and confidentiality. An agreement is made between you and the therapist about confidentiality and other issues such as times for the sessions, the number of sessions and the fees.
The counsellor then works together with you, sometimes for a few sessions, sometimes over an extended period of time, to explore any difficulties your may be experiencing in your life in a way, and at a pace, that you feel comfortable with.
The counsellor will offer a safe, non-judgemental environment and a therapeutic working relationship where trust can be built up. This is an essential part of the process, used as a base for you to start to feel able to explore your issues and for the counsellor to gain insight into your feelings and perspectives.
The sessions take place in a very relaxed atmosphere. Sometimes sessions can be quite painful before the benefits are felt, and it's important that the environment is one in which you can feel completely safe and secure.
Counselling has many background methods and theories, and the counsellor will use different aspects of these to aid in the therapeutic process. Some of them are explained a little more on the right. You can find out more detail on the website of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
The person-centred approach, pioneered by Carl Rogers, views the client as being fully capable of fulfilling their own potential when given the core conditions for potential growth. The core conditions are 'Unconditional Positive Regard' which, put simply, means not being judged in any way. The counsellor will seek to understand the client from their point of view...
Coming from the approach of Sigmund Freud, in this method the counsellor uses the therapeutic relationship to gain insight into unconscious relationship patterns that may have evolved in the client since childhood. As the client becomes more aware of past issues and how they might impact on their present thoughts and behaviour they are able to better control their actions and responses...
In the cognitive approach of Aaron Beck, the counsellor may take a more direct role in the therapy. The counsellor and the client work actively together to achieve agreed goals. Clients may receive activities to do outside the sessions. These may include behavioural exercises, reading or diary-keeping. This approach aims to reveal beliefs, interpretations and perceptions of events that impact on feelings, thoughts and actions...
Lintern Therapy is located in Queen's Drive, Littleover, DE23 6DU. If you would like to find out more, or talk to me about any aspect of my work, or you'd like to make an appointment please feel free to get in touch either by phone on 0779 288 3972, or by emailing me at dee.lintern@linterntherapy.com. Further contact details can be found on the Contact us page.
