Frequently Asked Questions
I will only move outside that confidentiality in extreme circumstances, where I believe either you or another human being is at risk of being hurt or killed, either through your actions or my inaction.
I would always attempt to discuss the situation fully with you first, and would act only if I felt that there was no other way forward.
No, that method was associated with Freud, and that is not how I practice. You will be in my practise room in a comfortable chair facing me. The room is quiet and looks over my garden that is usually full of birds.
Think of the counselling as part of your journey through life, you will know when you reach the end of that journey, or want to stop off somewhere for a different experience. Sometimes a client comes for two sessions, but some of my clients have been with me for a year.
Contact the British Association Of Counselling, at 1, Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2PJ. They keep a register of all the counsellors in the UK and will let you have the counsellors and supervisors for your area.
Counselling is a place of allowing, and certainly tears are one of the releases that sometimes come as a result of sharing your experiences. It is also a place to experiment with anger and other feelings that you may have unknowingly suppressed. The counsellor will not judge you whatever happens during your session.
Yes, sometimes its helpful to keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings or responses in your world. This can be used as a basis for discussions to start.
Most counsellors will want to try to understand you from your unique standpoint so it is not really necessary for the counsellor to be in your image, in fact sometimes it can be advantageous if they are not.
Most counsellors would want to meet you 'in a real way' and if you have had any stimulants then it could get in the way of you taking a real look at yourself, so they are best avoided.
The idea of counselling is that you have a shared journey. If what happened in your past is not affecting you now then there is no need to take it out and examine it. If, however there are things going on in your life now then you may want to examine your feelings from past events in a safe place with someone who you trust. Very often just the act of taking them out and looking at that those locked-away feelings is enough to allow a moving on for you.
If you have any other questions about counselling that I haven't addressed here, you may be able to find the answers at one of the sites featured on the Links page.