What to expect in counselling
(with me as your therapist)
As every therapist is a different person we will all work in a slightly different way. A good therapist will be well 'seasoned' in their approach and not 'wooden'. More experienced therapists will bring their personality into therapy, they will not be putting on a act of trying to be a therapist, or something that they are not.
When you come to see me, you deal with me only, there is no reception staff, or other 3rd parties involved.
Research has shown - having therapy is more helpful than having no therapy at all.
I will provide you with a safe environment where you can really be you, without being judged.
What may happen is:
- I will go over the limits of confidentiality and fees which will only take a minute or so.
- I will ask about what brings you to therapy - it will probably be more helpful if you don't rehearse or go over what to say in therapy, as then it may feel more natural for you and less 'staged' if you just arrive, don't put yourself under any unnecessary pressure.
- I will ask you questions which will help you to go more into depth and identify what is going on internally for you.
- You may talk about things you didn't expect to
What will not happen:
- You will not be laid on a chaise lounge
- No medication will be used
- I will not tell you what to do with your life, although we may agree on 'tasks' or 'experiments' for you outside of the therapy room. This would probably only be in relation to building confidence or changing behaviour/s.
“In my relationships with persons I have found that it does not help, in the long run, to act as though I were something that I am not.”
― Carl R. Rogers, On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy