Counselling in Southampton, Hampshire
Counselling
Counselling is a talking therapy. Many people seek the support of a professional counsellor to talk about their problems and find ways to manage their difficulties. Counselling provides a private and confidential space to explore thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviours.
People choose to come to counselling for many reasons. Some are seeking alleviation from emotional distress such as a bereavement or a relationship breakdown; others are struggling with an ongoing issue such as anxiety or depression that is limiting their ability to enjoy life and live fully. Some wish to explore issues from their past that continue to affect their life today. Others wish to partake on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
More and more people are choosing to seek counselling to improve their quality of life and are valuing their emotional and mental health as just as important as their physical health. My own journey towards becoming a professional counsellor grew from my personal experience as a client and benefitting from its life-changing outcomes. I know how daunting it can be to make that first step, but I also know how very worth it that step can be.
My Approach
I am a warm, open-minded and accepting person. I will not judge you or the things you choose to share with me. I am empathic and will strive to understand you and the world you live in. The key to successful counselling is the relationship and connection between the counsellor and the client. I will try my best to provide a trusting and safe space where you can explore your difficulties, discover solutions, and find ways to heal, grow and change.
I am passionate about helping people improve their emotional well-being and mental health. I feel it is an honour and a privilege to share in my clients’ journeys, to be trusted to support them when they are feeling most vulnerable and to witness the often life-enhancing results of their hard work and courage.
My approach is Humanistic, integrating Person-Centred, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis theory and skills. In a nutshell, this means that I believe we are all unique individuals, with unique backgrounds and experiences that shape us into who we are today. I believe that everyone has intrinsic worth, deserves respect and has the ability to change.
I practise in a trauma-informed way meaning that I understand how trauma can affect a person and how to work safely with it. I can help you understand what is happening and help you learn ways to reduce symptoms of trauma that you may be experiencing.
I will not give you direct advice as I believe that you know yourself and your life situation best. I can offer you a fresh perspective, and ideas and techniques that others have found helpful. I can also offer you the opportunity to lay all that’s going on for you out on the table so that you can feel unburdened, make sense of what’s happening, let go of what you’d like to and heal. Most of all, I’m here to listen and for you to feel heard.
We will always work in collaboration, at your pace and in the direction you want to go. I have professional skills but you are the expert in your life. I trust that you have all the resources you need to feel better inside of you; part of our work might be to help you rediscover them. In doing so, your self-confidence and self-esteem can grow.