Counselling at Hadleigh Hypnotherapy
What is counselling?
Counselling and hypnotherapy share some similarities, in that both are talking therapies which help people make changes in their lives.
However, where hypnotherapy necessitates you being in a trance state so that we can access the subconscious mind, counselling involves us talking together…unpacking your experiences and situations so that you can reach their own resolutions.
Just as there are different techniques that can be used in hypnotherapy, so the same goes for counselling. Many people worry that, when they attend counselling, they will be expected to talk about their past in great detail. Whilst exploring past events can, in some situations be very helpful, it is by no means necessary. Discussing the past is just one approach to therapy.
I am trained to practice Pluralistic counselling. This is a humanistic, collaborative approach which does not have its roots in any single theoretical model. This approach starts from the basis of valuing you as an individual, valuing your idea of positive change, and valuing the multitude of ways available to help you achieve those changes. This means that you, my client and I, your therapist work together to find the most effective ways to help you. Much of what I do with my clients involves us establishing goals, making decisions and finding solutions. I can present you with different options, but it is you that chooses which to take.
Counselling can be very short-term (six to eight sessions), or medium-term (up to twenty-four sessions). This depends upon the nature of your issue and approaches we have chosen together.
Counselling offers a safe, empathic and non-judgmental space for you to explore your life and your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. For me, this feels a little like contemplating a large tangle of multi-coloured yarn. Over time, together we can separate the strands into their individual colours, making some sense of past events and gaining some clarity. Counselling can enable you to gain a fresh perspective as you focus your thinking onto your own personal resources and start to see a way forward, enabling you to consider alternatives and try things for size. When all is said and done, you are the expert in your own life…my place is to accompany you for a little while on your journey as you discover those strengths within yourself, helping you to achieve your goals and fulfil your potential.
What to expect at your first visit
There are no hard and fast rules regarding your first session, but generally, the first session gives us an opportunity to get to know one another a little. You can talk me about what has brought you to therapy and I will listen to whatever you have to tell me. You can ask me any questions you may have and I will answer as honestly and clearly as I can.
We will discuss our therapy contract which includes things like arranging and cancelling appointments, dates and times and payment. We might start to look at what you want to gain from our time together and how we might work towards this. Like every therapy session, this first one will move at a pace with which you are comfortable.
My accreditation with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society means that my practice is in compliance with the Society’s’ Code of Professional Practice and Ethics at all times.
For further information about this, please visit https://nationalcounsellingsociety.org/about-us/code-of-ethics
