How Can Therapy Help Me?

Taking the first step

It can be hard reaching out when we’ve been struggling alone, but asking for help is the first step to making that change in our lives that we’ve been wanting to make. It’s important to find someone with whom we feel comfortable enough to share our inner thoughts, trusting that we will be accepted and valued just as we are. If you’ve tried counselling before and it didn’t feel right, this may have been due to a number of reasons. Perhaps the therapist or their approach wasn't right for you, or maybe it wasn’t the right time to start therapy.

Although we may become aware of the physical signs of stress, the emotional and mental signs can become so ingrained within our every day lives that, over time, they become our ‘normal’. We continue our lives as usual, accepting that this is just the way our life is. ‘I am how I am’ or ‘I’m not good enough’ are common narratives or life scripts. These life scripts mould us and prevent us from reaching our full potential and ability to function at optimum level. They become a very real part of our identity and, although we can grow comfortable as we adjust to maladaptive tendencies or behaviours, they don’t serve us well. Instead, they provide the perfect environment for us in which to continue living inauthentically, causing emotional and mental distress, which often results in physical ailments and affects our ability to form and maintain healthy relationships.

Physical signs and symptoms of distress include psoriasis and other skin conditions, alopecia, digestive issues, palpitations, nervous/anxiety sweating (leading to hyperhidrosis), headaches, high blood pressure, weight gain/weight loss, lack of focus, low energy, insomnia, and hormonal changes. This is not an exhaustive list and your GP should always be your first port of call if you experience any of the these signs or symptoms.

Therapy can help to alleviate emotional and physical tension and to untangle the strands that, when left, grow into a giant knot in one's chest. Therapy can help to peel away the damaging layers of ourselves, allowing us to be comfortable enough to just be, because at the core is an authentic human-being seeking an authentic life.

How many sessions do I need?

You don’t have to decide on either short-term or long-term; therapy is a process, one which can’t necessarily be given a time-frame due to the fact that therapy is unique for every individual. Some clients come for a few months and some continue beyond this. Some clients may only come for a few sessions whilst they work through a difficult period. Whatever the length of your therapeutic journey, your emotional well-being will be at the forefront of my practice with regular reviews to ensure you are getting what you need.

There may be situations where you benefit from working creatively, particularly when recalling painful or traumatic events. Some clients have found it helpful to incorporate art into their sessions as a way of exploring how they feel and channelling their emotions. Creative interventions can offer other means of self-discovery and insight, and provide another level of depth when verbalising your thoughts or feelings is a struggle. This is particularly helpful for those with anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other issues.

So, my question to you would be, what would you like from counselling? What is it that you need? Are you looking for a confidential space where you can feel heard and seen? And beyond this, are you looking to create change within your life? Whatever your reason for seeking therapy, I will work with you to find out what your process is, how you function, and to consider any changes that you feel would benefit your mental health and well-being.