Person-Centred Counselling - what to expect
Counselling at your pace.
Person-centred theory is rooted in the belief that each of us holds the power and inner desire to fulfil our own unique potential.
The client and their needs is at the centre of the counselling session while the therapist takes the role of facilitator - not the expert - using active listening skills and offering observations and reflections that enable the client to make sense of their experiences and what is going on for them. My training enables me to see themes and links between aspects of your narrative and the various humanistic concepts that contribute to the theory of the person-centred approach.
Only you have walked your path and therefore I do not make judgements or provide advice. Instead, I meet you with empathy, honesty and acceptance. I hear your unique experience and support you to explore things at your own pace by providing a safe space where you can feel really listened to, reflect on your thoughts and feelings, and begin to move forward in a way that feels right for you.
Some effects of counselling that you may find emerging are:
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a coming to terms with significant life events and a reduced sense of helplessness
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an understanding of how your history has impacted your present
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learning that what is going on for you is not your fault
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self-compassion and self-acceptance
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enhanced wellbeing and improved resilience
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uncovering choices and autonomy, feeling more in control of your future
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enhancing your relationships with others by shedding light on your patterns of relating
Other feelings that may arise, both during and between sessions, include:
mental fatigue
sadness and grief
uncertainty and confusion
feelings of vulnerability
fear and worry
frustration
These reactions are normal and arise from the processing of difficult themes and events. The feelings should pass, but in the meantime it's highly recommended that clients share their thoughts with their counsellor to ensure the pace remains comfortable for them and that sessions cover only what the client
feels able to bring at the time.
Initial contact
Reaching out for support can feel daunting and it can take weeks, month, or even years for people to find the courage to seek help.
To try to make this step as helpful as possible, there are several ways that you can make contact with me, depending on your preference.
Complete the enquiry form
I will be notified of your enquiry and will contact you in a way that you have indicated is comfortable for you.
By phone call, on 07505 353572
You may be greeted by a recorded message. Please leave your name and number and I will return your call within 5 working days - although I will always endeavour to make contact within 48 hours.
By WhatsApp, text or email
You are welcome to email me, or send a message via WhatsApp or regular text.
WhatsApp: Galini Counselling (07505 353572)
Text: 07505 353572
Email: kirstie.counselling@gmail.com
During our initial contact I may ask:
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About the nature of your issue - why you have reached out
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Your date of birth to ensure you are 16 or over
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Your approximate location - nearest town or city. This is so that I can understand what other support might be available should it become a subject of discussion.
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If you are seeing any other mental health professionals
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Any questions you may have
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What your availability is
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What you would like to happen next (this could be a 10 minute video call; your first session including a short assessment; time to consider whether you would like to go ahead with counselling sessions)
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Whether you have any access requirements or conditions that you would like me to take into account
Our first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another. There is no expectation that you will have everything worked out or know exactly where to begin. We can take things at your pace.
Getting to know you
We will spend some time talking about what has brought you to counselling and what you would like support with, as well as what you are hoping to gain from counselling.
I may ask about whether you have had counselling before and, if so, what you found helpful or unhelpful about previous experiences.
This helps me to learn about what feels right for you and how we might work together.
We may also explore the people and relationships around you, including your support network and the place you occupy within your family. This isn't about judging your circumstances or looking for the "right" answers. It helps me to develop a fuller understanding of you, your experiences and the things that may be affecting you now.
I may ask some questions about your current circumstances and well-being so that I can make sure that it is appropriate for me to provide you with counselling and that I will be able to support you safely. If I feel I am unable to support you I will explain this to you, including the reasons why, and we can talk about alternative options.
You are also welcome to ask questions. It is important that you are comfortable in our space and sometimes a client may feel that a particular counsellor is not a good fit for them. This is okay, and we can agree to not move forward with further sessions.
Forms
Before our first session, I ask you to complete and return your Client & Counsellor Agreement, including your contact details and signature. This sets out how we will work together and gives you important information about confidentiality, privacy, fees, cancellations and other aspects of counselling.
We'll have an opportunity to go through the agreement together and you can ask me about anything you're unsure about. I want you to feel comfortable with how we will work together before we begin.
Beginning our work together
The first session isn't about getting everything out in the open straight away. It is about beginning to establish trust, and a relationship in which you feel heard, respected and able to be yourself.
It can take time for you to feel comfortable enough to share your thoughts and feelings, and that time period is different for everyone.
You can bring whatever you feel you wish to on the day, and we can begin from wherever feels right for you.
The first session
Ongoing sessions
There is no prescribed agenda in person-centred counselling.
You will bring whatever is important to you on the day, and whatever you feel comfortable sharing. We will work collaboratively, at a pace that suits you.
I may ask searching questions, or notice an intonation or particular word or phrase, and invite you to explore is a little further. Sometimes you may not immediately have an answer, and that's okay. The intention is not to find a 'right' answer, but to gently explore what may be sitting beneath your thoughts, feelings and experiences, and to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no set number of sessions that you have to attend. Some people find that 4 to 6 sessions gives them the space and understanding they need to move forward without further therapeutic support.
Others choose to work for longer.
There is no right or wrong length of time. It depends on what you need, what you would like to explore and what emerges during our work together.
Reviewing our work
From time to time during our sessions I will suggest that we have a review. This might typically be every 8 to 10 sessions, or when we reach a natural point where you feel you have processed a particular life event or situation.
A review gives us the opportunity to:
make sure our sessions are still meeting your needs, including how we are working together and any practical arrangements;
reflect on what you feel you have gained from our work and how this compares with what you hoped for;
consider what you might like to explore next and whether continuing counselling feels right for you.
A note about progress.
I don't tend to use the word 'progress' in person-centred counselling, since it can sometimes imply that there is a particular destination or expected outcome that you should be working towards
which can create a feeling of pressure.
You may have hopes and goals when you begin counselling but, as you come to understand yourself more deeply, these can change. What initially feels like the thing you need to address may not be what ultimately becomes most important to you.
What happens outside the sessions?
There is a hope and expectation that you will try to implement learning from our sessions in your everyday life. This may include reflecting, processing and even potentially changing certain behaviours and thought patterns.
However, it's important to note that this is not mandatory, and you will not be given homework or tasks to complete unless you specifically feel this will be of benefit. I may make suggestions that I feel could be worth considering, but there is never any obligation to carry out any of the suggestions.
What works for one person does not work for everyone.
Ending counselling
Ending counselling is an important part of the therapeutic process. Ideally, we will have some opportunity to talk together about when and how our work comes to an end, rather than stopping without discussion.
There may be many reasons for ending counselling. You may feel that you have explored what you came to counselling for, developed a greater understanding of yourself, or feel ready to move forward without further therapeutic support. You may also decide that counselling no longer feels right for you, or that you need something different to what I can offer. Whatever the reason, you are free to decide when you wish to end our work together.
Where possible, I encourage us to have a final session so that we can reflect on what you have explored, acknowledge any changes or insights you have gained, and consider what you may take forward with you. This can also provide an opportunity to talk about any feelings that arise around ending the therapeutic relationship.
Sometimes, an ending may be something we discuss together because I feel that counselling may no longer be appropriate, or that another form of support may be more suitable for your needs. If this happens I will talk things through with you openly and, where appropriate, help you consider what other support may be available.
Ending counselling doesn't mean that everything has to be "fixed".
Sometimes, it simply means that you have reached a point where you feel able to continue your journey with the insights and tools gained from our work together. You are always welcome to have more counselling sessions in the future should you wish to.