My Counselling Approach
The main counselling approach I work within is the Person-Centred Experiential approach. However, I also work in an integrative way which involves incorporating specific principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy depending on the needs and wishes of each client. Person-Centred Experiential therapy is a humanistic and emotion focused non-directive talking form of therapy which is very much focused on each individual; including their overall lives, their experiences and relationships, and their thoughts, feelings and emotions. As our feelings, thoughts and behaviours are intrinsically linked, this specific counselling approaches works to identify the links between our feelings and thoughts, how these may influence our behaviours and impact our mental health and well-being. This is done by an individual focusing on specific experiences, both past and present, and the associated feelings, emotions and thoughts evoked. The process involves paying close attention to the moment-to-moment immediate experiencing and unpacking this to identify and understand specific emotions, feelings and behaviours and the impact of these.
The approach believes that all individuals, when provided with the right conditions, especially during therapy, are able to gain the capacity and ability to challenge, change and develop their mental health and well-being. For some people this maybe exploring and understanding specific experiences, thought patterns and behaviours, and unhealthy emotions. For others, it may be gaining greater clarify and awareness with regards to specific mental health issues such as stress, anxiety or depression, and how to better cope and manage these issues within their daily life.
CDuring Person-Centred Experiential counselling sessions, you are encouraged to bring what you feel comfortable speaking about to each session, and to direct and structure the session in a way which feels most beneficial to you and your process. My role within the therapy session is not to direct or structure sessions but to act as a guide and source of support by providing non-judgemental but empathic responses, reflections and at times questions to help you explore, unpack and process both past and present experiences, along with the associated emotions and feelings and thought and behavioural patterns. The hope and aim of this type of therapy is to not only support individuals in gaining greater self-awareness and self-understanding, but to also identify healthier and more positive emotional and mental behaviours and responses, and to implement changes into daily life.
Get in touch
Should you have any questions about the therapy process, myself as a therapist or the counselling approach I work within, please do contact me by email using the secure contact form here.
You can also call me on 0772 2956892 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.
I offer a free initial assessment via phone. This consultation call is a 15 minute conversation.
