Dynamics Counselling Service, Warrington

the way i work

Offering a blended approach in my work, I use elements of Compassion-Focused Therapy and Transactional Analysis, alongside a core Psychodynamic way of working. To put more simply, this might mean taking care of old beliefs that stem from childhood and looking at them with your fresh adult eyes; relabelling negative beliefs you may be holding onto unlocking the past to put some meaning and understanding into how it is affecting your present and ultimately your future.

I explain to all my prospective clients that choosing the right counsellor is the most important part of the process. In addition to ensuring that your counsellor is adequately qualified and registered with the BACP, it is helpful to find a therapist with whom you feel confident and comfortable enough with to talk openly and honestly about things, otherwise you just won’t get the full benefit of the counselling process.

Here are three things to consider if you’re thinking about working with me…

1. I will invite you to do a bit of ‘homework’ between sessions

I firmly believe what we do between counselling sessions is just as important as that hour of face to face contact each week. My counselling approach is very practical in its nature; in sessions we will work together to explore the things that have been holding you back, and we will work on putting meaning behind your feelings, in order to find a better way of managing difficulties in the future. Between sessions, you will start to put into practice these tools and strategies; we might agree that you start a bit of journal writing, try out new ways of thinking and challenging unhelpful thoughts, or even explore a bit of mindfulness. So, when I say ‘homework’, it’s really not so bad.

2. You will get the unedited me

I don’t change my personality in the counselling room; I don’t adopt a clinical ‘therapist’ persona. It is likely that you will share really personal experiences in your counselling sessions, you may explore aspects of your life that have been difficult and traumatic, you will share the authentic you. So, the very least you can expect, and deserve, from me is, well, me! My counselling style tends to incorporate a warm and relaxed approach; my aim is to make you as comfortable as possible and that means going at your pace, establishing your goals for counselling and offering encouragement and support along the way. There are even times when humour plays a part in the counselling process, which in itself can be very therapeutic.

3. I will never promise you a quick fix

Every individual comes to counselling with something unique to them, and if you’ve got to the point where you’re considering therapy, then what you’re going through is pretty important to you, and deserves some time. Some of my clients choose to work with me over a number of years and consider therapy an important part of their wellbeing routine, where they have the space to explore and be curious about the self, whereas others find what they’re looking for over a much shorter time. The pace is led by you and we will review progress throughout the process to make sure that you’re getting what you need out of your counselling experience.