West Hertfordshire counselling and psychotherapy
Hello and welcome. Thank you for visiting my West Hertfordshire counselling and psychotherapy site.
Introduction
People who come for counselling or psychotherapy sometimes describe their lives as a bit like a river - they feel as though they are close to drowning and are unable to control the tide of stress and pressure that is sweeping them away. Counselling and psychotherapy can provide a safe, non-judgemental place for anyone who wishes to step out of the river for a while, take a breath, look at what is happening and then find better, healthier and more constructive ways of dealing with challenges, one stepping stone at a time.At the moment you may feel so alone that you are simply unable to approach family or friends. Maybe you care for them and do not want to burden them with your troubles, or perhaps they even seem like part of the problem and impossible to talk to. On the other hand perhaps your problems seem trivial or unimportant when compared to others and you feel ashamed or guilty for feeling the way you do. Although there are no guarantees that life will improve immediately, many people find that airing their concerns, even minor ones, with someone who is not directly involved can help enormously.
Counselling or Psychotherapy?
Most of my clients have never been to a counsellor or psychotherapist before so I recognise the concerns of people who are completely new to what counselling and psychotherapy can offer. For example you may not be used to exploring your thoughts and feelings with someone outside of your usual circle, or are not sure what counselling or psychotherapy involve and worry that you will be overwhelmed by your emotions. In the first session we can discuss your expectations and hopefully answer any questions you might have.For many, counselling or psychotherapy mean the same thing - a way of approaching problems in the company of a trained professional who can help you to understand and manage emotional difficulties like stress, grief, anger, depression or loss of any kind such as redundancy. Counselling and psychotherapy can also help with problems which are harder to define, such as a general feeling of discontent and unease with life, family or work.
However psychotherapists generally train for longer and usually have access to a wider range of knowledge and skills which they can call on in the service of their clients. They tend to explore the roots of problems, facilitating the discovery of deep insights, which in turn can bring about lasting changes in the way clients understand their world and live more satisfying lives. As a trained, qualified and registered psychotherapist, I can offer both counselling and psychotherapy. We can talk through this in the first session and try to identify what will meet your needs best.
Clients come to me with difficulties such as
Practicalities
I currently offer evening appointments from my counselling and psychotherapy practice in West Hertfordshire, within easy reach of Watford, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and the surrounding areas. I also practice in Paddington, convenient for the Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City, and District & Circle tube lines and mainline rail.I am registered by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP Code of Ethics) and accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.