Counselling

You may have heard me say that I have one of the greatest honours of coming alongside people and I mean that and the reason is that I get to see people transform as we work together. Transformation can look like having the confidence to make different choices or to gain a sense of awareness; there is so much I could tell you.  I also appreciate the courage it takes to put your hand up and ask for support or to share your story with another person. Especially acknowledging when working with clients, technically I’m a stranger at the commencement of counselling process unless we have crossed paths before. It’s taking into consideration the process of asking for support and that it’s not always easy, comfortable or even the first option. Sometimes we try and work things out on our own, and sometimes we need a safe space to unpack our burdens, share our thoughts and express our feelings. You see even counsellors need support at times and we get it through a supervisor or going to counselling ourselves. No one can escape the highs and lows of life, while I have set in the counsellor’s chair, I have sat in the client’s chair also, and a valuable takeaway for me is sometimes we offer support and sometimes we need support.

So, in today’s episode, I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what happens in the counselling room. While what gets discussed in sessions is confidential, which is not where we are going but more about what counselling can look like. Maybe the whole process may leave you feeling curious, or you have an idea of what therapy looks like because you have decided to give it a go? What comes to mind when you think of counselling?  Perhaps it’s laying on a couch talking about your childhood while the counsellor asks you “so tell me how that makes you feel”. While clients remain upright during the session, we may delve into childhood if it is going to help with the client’s goals, but this is not always the case. I do ask clients how they feel about particular situations, but that is not the only thing I ask. Would it be fair that different pictures have been painted of what it all looks like, and I wonder if it encourages people to get the help they deserve or does it create obstacles? I would love to hear your thoughts about this.

Most of the work that gets done in a counselling session relies on the therapeutic relationship. It’s where trust is established when a person is heard and feels safe to express themselves. Together a counselling plan is established in line with the client’s goals. In my practice, I aim to create an atmosphere where a client can accept themselves just where they are and from that place, be empowered to change areas of their life that are aligned with these goals. Carl Rogers quoted “the curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change”. There is an honouring of the process and how far each person has come up to this point and the empowerment to create change even if its baby steps towards the desired goal. I am a big encourager of celebrating the steps. The other side of counselling looks at practical tools that can create awareness, identify strengths, set goals and come up with ways to take steps forward, it’s looking at different emotions and how to process them, its learning how to transition through various stages of life, expanding one’s communication skills, and processing grief and loss just to name a few. Counsellors can use different methods and tools when working with clients; however, it’s vital for the client to feel comfortable with the intervention and have the space to voice their experience.

So, if you are curious about counselling or have any questions, I would also love to hear from you and let’s connect. I am offering free 15-minute phone consultations with no obligation because I understand how the process can be daunting. On a finishing, note thank you so much for joining me for this episode and it makes the journey so much more enjoyable when I hear from you. If you have any topic ideas, I am just an email away. I hope you a wonderful rest of the week.