I offer a confidential counselling service, based in central Bournemouth, Dorset.
I also offer counselling for the LGBT community at Over the Rainbow, in the Triangle, Bournemouth, Dorset.
There are many personal problems, difficulties and traumas that can lead to you feeling overwhelmed, depressed, anxious or unable to cope with life. Sometimes talking to friends and family does not help. There may not be a person in your life with whom you feel safe enough to confide in and trust with your intimate concerns or worries.
Counselling can help when you need to work things through with someone unbiased. A therapeutic relationship is an empathic, supportive and non-judgemental relationship with a trained professional. As your counsellor, I shall support you as you try and establish your needs and find ways of meeting them, rather than offering solutions. Experiences in the past can unconsciously affect how we think and feel in our current relationships, which will include your relationship with me, as your counsellor.
Counselling offers a safe containing environment where you can discuss, explore and work through issues and feelings that are negatively affecting your life. Talking things through, being heard, engaging in this process of exploration with a trained professional, who has knowledge of psychological theories and recognised communication skills, modified with experience, intuition and empathy, can facillitate insight and greater self awareness. A confidential, therapeutic relationship can help you to move on from painful experiences and difficulties and lead a happier, healthier and more fulfilled life.
Taking the step to talk to a counseller can feel daunting and you may wonder whether you need counselling, or how it can help you.
Maybe you are experiencing relationship difficulties or dealing with painful feelings of loss and grief due to bereavement or other life changes?
Where you emotionally, sexually or physically abused during your childhood or more recent past and are now struggling with the after effects?
Are sexual problems causing you concern or worry?
Feeling confused about your sexuality and feel that you need to explore this with someone in confidence, without judgement?
Are you having unmanageable feelings (anger, sadness, emptiness) which are difficult to understand?
Do you suffer from low self esteem , lack confidence, have feelings of worthlessness, or feel that you are not good enough?
Do you use alcohol or drugs in a detrimental way or physically harm yourself to cope with painful life situations and feelings?
Are you feeling ill at ease at work, socially and/or in the family?
Is life becoming unbearable because of depression, stress, anxiety or panic attacks?
These are just some examples of the kind of things that bring people to counselling, however, as we are all unique individuals, no "list" of reasons why people seek help will ever be fully comprehensive and your own problem may not have been described. You may have a myriad of difficulties, feel overwhelmed and unclear about where your emotional pain and current feelings stem from...
Whatever is troubling you, if you feel the need to talk to someone who will listen, without judgment......