Frequently Asked Questions

When you first come for counselling, it can feel a bit strange to share your worries, thoughts, and feelings with someone you don’t know. That’s okay – it can take a few sessions to settle and to feel comfortable. There’s no pressure to talk about things that feel upsetting or difficult too soon. We can go at your pace. Usually, after a couple of sessions, people begin to open-up and share more about what’s going on. Once this happens, we can start to make sense of everything bit by bit, and as we work together over time, a process of meaningful change can occur.

Some people want to explore their past and make connections with how they are in the present. This can help them to cast off habits and behaviours that have served to protect them and help them to cope but are no longer needed. Others may not want to look back and, prefer instead, to focus on the here and now and look towards the future. Some people find it useful to consider new strategies in dealing with difficult situations and relationships. We might come up with ideas for tasks to experiment with in between sessions, and then reflect on how the experiments have gone, and think about what new personal discoveries are coming up as a result. Sometimes people need me to ‘just be’ with them as they experience deeply painful feelings – this close companionship in witness to their pain can be profoundly healing. Everyone is unique. Everyone needs something different. It’s my job to understand you – to help you gain clarity about what you need – what’s best for you and what works for you. It’s a process that we’re together in. I’ll check in with you throughout to ensure we’re working in a way that suits you and feels right.