Frequently Asked Questions

What is Counselling?

Counselling is a safe, confidential space where you can talk about your thoughts, feelings, and challenges with a trained professional. It’s a supportive process that helps you explore your concerns, gain a better understanding of yourself, and develop strategies to cope with difficulties in your life.

A counsellor won’t judge you or tell you what to do but will listen carefully, ask questions, and help you find your own answers. Sessions are tailored to your needs, whether you want to work through specific issues, improve relationships, manage stress, or simply gain clarity and direction.

Embark on your journey of self-exploration through counselling to begin a positive transformation, take charge of your mental health and empower yourself to navigate life's obstacles with confidence.

How Do I Know If I Need Counselling?

Counselling can be beneficial at any stage of life. Here are some common situations where seeking counselling can help:

• Emotional Struggles
  If you're feeling overwhelmed, sad, or anxious for an extended period, counselling offers a safe and supportive space to explore and manage these emotions.
• Life Transitions
  Major life changes—such as a new job, moving house, developing a chronic illness, or the loss of a loved one—can be difficult to navigate. Counselling can help you process these transitions and cope with their emotional impact.
• Relationship Challenges
  Whether it’s a current partner, family members, colleagues, or issues from past relationships, counselling provides tools to improve communication, enhance understanding, and develop a healthier association with confrontation.
• Mental Health Concerns
  If you’re struggling with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or trauma, counselling can offer professional guidance to help manage symptoms and develop healthier coping strategies.
• Personal Growth
  Counselling isn’t only for times of crisis and struggles. It can also support your journey of self-discovery, boosting self-esteem, and setting and achieving personal goals.
• Uncertainty
  If you’re feeling “stuck” in any area of life or feel unsure about what is feeling off, counselling can offer a fresh perspective and help you explore new paths and options.

Whether you're dealing with a specific challenge or simply looking for support to enhance your well-being, counselling can help you gain clarity, develop resilience, and move towards a more fulfilling life. If you are contemplating therapy, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help guide you to the appropriate support if necessary. Therapy is about discovering what works best for you.

What Happens in a Counselling Session?

In a typical counselling session, we’ll meet in a quiet, private setting where you can feel comfortable and at ease. The first session usually involves getting to know each other a bit, and we can discuss our 'therapeutic contract', which includes things like confidentiality, session structure, and expectations, to ensure we both understand the process and feel comfortable moving forward. We might talk about what brought you to counselling and what you’re hoping to achieve.

As the sessions continue, you can talk about whatever’s on your mind—whether it's personal struggles, feelings of stress, or things you’re uncertain about. I will listen and ask questions to help you reflect and explore your thoughts more deeply. We might also look at techniques to help you manage difficult emotions or situations.

Sessions typically run for 50 minutes, with a suggested one-hour duration to allow for a proper conclusion and the scheduling of your next appointment. I will offer a heads-up towards the end of each session to address any topics that may need revisiting in our subsequent meeting.

How Many Sessions Do I Need?

There's flexibility in the number of counselling sessions you can have, tailored to suit your needs. Some individuals may find relief after just six sessions, while others may benefit from forty hours or more. The duration of our sessions depends on various factors, making it challenging to predict the exact number needed for each individual. If you prefer a specific number of sessions, we can set a goal and structure each session accordingly for better time management.

For long-term clients, I initiate a conversation when it feels like a good time to pause or conclude regular counselling sessions. Clients are also encouraged to express if they wish to take a break or end sessions at any point.

What is Person-Centred Therapy?

Person-centred counselling provides a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. Rather than offering advice, I will support you in finding your own solutions, helping you build self-awareness, confidence, and emotional well-being.

Sessions are led by you—whether you want to talk about current challenges, past experiences, or simply make sense of your emotions. My role is to listen with empathy, offer understanding, and create a space where you feel truly heard and valued.

Although this approach is helpful for a wide range of problems, it is particuarly beneficial for challenges, including:

• Low self-esteem & self-doubt – Build confidence and self-acceptance.
• Anxiety & stress – Find clarity and emotional balance.
• Depression & low mood – Explore your feelings in a safe, understanding space.
• Relationship difficulties – Improve self-awareness and communication.
• Life transitions & uncertainty – Navigate change with confidence.
• Trauma & emotional pain – Process experiences at your own pace.
• Personal growth & self-discovery – Connect with your true self.

Whether you're facing a specific challenge or simply want to understand yourself better, I’m here to support you. You don’t have to go through it alone.

What is Transactional Analysis?

Transactional Analysis (TA) is a form of therapy that helps individuals understand their interactions, improve communication, and enhance emotional well-being. The foundations of TA focuses on three ego states that shape our feelings, thoughts and behaviours:

• Parent – Learned attitudes and behaviours from authority figures.

• Adult – Rational, logical thinking based on facts.

• Child – Emotional responses and impulses from childhood.

Sessions will generally be more directive and challenging. TA often involves exploring theories and together working out how we can use them to understand and help with your presenting problem. Although it can be used as a tool for long-term clients, this approach can be really helpful for those who are limited to fewer sessions and wish to focus on a particular issue.

Transactional Analysis (TA) is effective for a wide range of psychological and emotional issues in individuals, including:

• Low self-esteem and confidence issues - Learn how to trust yourself and introduce healthy boundaries.
  
• Relationship issues - Discover your role and behavioural patterns in relationships.
• Conflict resolution and communication problems -Develop healthier ways to approach confrontation and communicate your needs. 
  
• Childhood trauma and unresolved past experiences - Understand why you do the things you do.
• Workplace conflicts, stress, and professional development - Gain tools to navigate difficulties with colleagues.

If you’re looking for a structured, insightful approach to personal growth, TA could be really helpful for you. 

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is a type of talking therapy that helps you understand how your past experiences, especially from childhood, influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours today. It focuses on uncovering unconscious patterns and emotions that may be affecting your life, relationships, and well-being.

In therapy, we explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe and supportive space. A key part of this process is recognising defence mechanisms—unconscious ways your mind protects you from difficult emotions, such as denial, avoidance, or projection. By becoming aware of these patterns, you can understand yourself better and develop healthier ways of coping.

This approach is helpful for a wide range of emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and self-esteem struggles. While it may take time, psychodynamic therapy can lead to lasting personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself.

Do I Have to Choose the Type of Therapy?

No, that's what I'm here for! Integrative counselling means that I combine different approaches to help you in the best way possible. It’s about finding the right methods to suit your needs, whether that’s talking about your thoughts and feelings, exploring your past, or looking at your behaviors and how they affect you. We'll explore a mixture of techniques and tools from different counselling styles to help you feel heard, understood, and supported on your journey toward healing and growth. The focus is always on you and what works best for your unique situation.