Counselling and Psychotherapy

How do they work?

Counselling and Psychotherapy are a form of ‘talking therapy’ that can help with many difficult life problems - from coping with traumatic experiences and events, to dealing with depression and anxiety or managing harmful emotions and behaviours. These may have been caused by events beyond our control that go back into our past. Another cause may be related to a relationship – past or present - with another. Any such cause can lead to anxiety, depression or other mental issues.

Counselling is often more short term and psychotherapy is more long term, often going deeper.

Both are very effective.

Why talk to someone else?

Talking to someone who is not connected personally with you means they can work with you without any pre-conceived ideas about you. Therefore there is no judgement or criticism.

They are there solely to support you in being free of what is troubling you. That is what they are trained to do.

Above all, the advantage of talking therapy is that it gives both parties an opportunity to find the cause of the current mental issue and thereby allow its influence to be reduced – if not let go of completely. Above all it is the relationship between therapist and client that can be most healing.

Counselling or psychotherapy can work well for those taking a remedy such as micronutrients, medication or other support treatments as both can support each other.

Talking Therapies are not a quick fix but they can lead in time to a complete freedom from mental issues as part of an overall healing programme.

How do I choose who to go to?

There is the option of approaching the NHS via your doctor to get counselling sessions.

The only difficulty is that they are often limited to 6 sessions and there can be a long waiting list. Furthermore you cannot choose who you are working with.

Many people find that by going privately they can choose who they work with (all therapists have a website) and they can decide how long they need to work with them.

Organisations that have lists of therapists are:

British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) www.bacp.co.uk

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy(UKCP) www.ukcp.org.uk

Counselling Directory www.counselling-directory.org.uk