Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't counselling/psychotherapy the same as talking to a good friend the only diffence is that you pay for it?A good friend can listen with an interested ear, which is the first important step. Sometimes this is not enough. help may be needed to look at yourself objectively, without judgement, in order to become fully aware of what is happening in your life, as it isn't always obvious. Often underlying causes for the difficulties are deeply hidden. This is where a therapist comes in, trained to mange the complexities of what is shared. The safe space offered can be used to help you take in hand your difficulties and work through them.
How long does it take?
In my experience the length of time varies considerably depending on the nature of the problem and what you hope to get out of counselling. For some, working up to 12 sessions has been sufficient, however a period of a six months or a year would be more beneficial to deal with deep rooted issues. This typically involves the exploration of childhood relationships and experiences.
What is the first step?
Before psychotherapy can commence we would have an initial session, often referred to as an assessment. This usually last longer than a normal session, as it is an opportunity to explore issues that could affect our relationship, as well as, your personal needs for therapy.
After the assessment should be agreed that therapy would be appropriate, practical issues such as time, day of sessions and cost will be discussed and together we will make a verbal contract.
