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What is involved?

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What is involved?

What is existential counselling/psychotherapy?

This is a down-to-earth approach based in existential philosophy. This means that it looks at the issues that affect us all during our lives - how we cope in society with others, how we structure our lives to find meaning and a sense of purpose and how we deal with the challenges of everyday living: choice, freedom, limitations, responsibility, death and meaninglessness.

How does it work?

You will be encouraged to describe your own personal world and 'take' on life as we look at the obstacles that may be holding you back or may have left you in a rut, feeling 'held back' or unable to cope with the things happening in your life. There may have been recent changes which have left you feeling particularly vulnerable, anxious or depressed. Rather than backing away from any anxiety, you will be encouraged to look at it with me and work with it, so that you can move forwards with increased confidence. Very often, fear may be preventing us from taking risks and moving on in life, especially given that there can be no certainties of the outcome. Making choices in life can be highly stressful, yet potentially very rewarding. You will be encouraged to explore how you feel your life might have become unsatisfying and how you feel you can change things for the better.

As your world is revealed to me in the sessions, your beliefs will be explored and you will develop a greater sense of who you are, where you are in your life and what you want to achieve. You may discover hidden talents, strengths and passions that might have got somehow lost along the way or submerged. You may be making assumptions and there may be contradictions - these will be addressed and clarified in our dialogue together. I will not give answers, but will help you to find your own as we discover possibilities together. I will challenge things that you say, in order to help us both understand things more clearly.

As the person responsible for your own life and choices, the outcome of the work will depend largely on your being committed to working equally with me to discover a better way forward, one that feels right for you. You will not be judged and will not be labelled or pigeonholed. There is equally no stigma involved in recognising a need for help at stages in our lives and there is always the possibility for dealing with our problems in a more effective way. Sometimes we become so immersed in our situation and 'bogged down' that we lose sight of things that a third party may be able to recognise. Sometimes, we simply do not have the time, space or opportunity to work through things objectively with the other people in our lives. Perhaps you feel that you do not want to discuss your difficulties with the people you know and would prefer to speak with someone who is distanced from your everyday life.

We will be very much equals as we look for a clearer purpose in your life, capitalising on your strengths and values, while acknowledging in a realistic way the limitations in your life. You will be encouraged to look at the ways in which you communicate with people around you, so that you can choose a perhaps more effective way to be in your way of living. You will have time to reflect on your life without outside interruption in strict confidentiality. You may at times choose to experience moments of silence together.

Through looking at the things that have been troubling you, we may discover new possibilities and the potential to live more comfortably - the challenges we all face also have the exciting prospect or 'flip side' of opportunities, which we all lose sight of at times. Through disentangling the problems, you will gain a greater clarity of the overall situation.

What happens in the sessions?

You will be offered an initial appointment. During this session, you will be encouraged to explain your reasons for seeking help at this time and asked what you would like to achieve though the work. Sessions last for fifty minutes and we will both sit in chairs and engage in an active dialogue together. My purpose is to understand your world as fully as possible - not to interpret or 'diagnose'. You will need to describe your life in some detail and may be asked to clarify things, so that we can get a clearer picture of where you stand, what you believe, what may have happened, where you feel you would like to go and what changes you would like to achieve. You will be encouraged to recognise that you ultimately have the responsibility to take control of your life. Through exploring the things that are contributing to your current position, you will gain a greater insight into yourself and your own life. You may wish to consider your past, to make sense of it and how it has contributed to your being where you are now. Yet you will also be challenged to recognise that you have responsibility for what you choose to do now. Your past cannot be seen as the 'cause' of, or excuse for, your not moving forwards now.

How long does it take?

This varies according to the issues being explored and the outcome that you may want to achieve. Sometimes clients may choose to work on very specific issues and may attend for ten sessions, with the option of working for longer. Therapy may involve a more in-depth exploration of your life and may last for between one and three years. You will know when you feel that you have achieved what you wanted to achieve and when you feel ready to move on without my support. You will decide when you feel you would like to suggest finishing the work. You will also be asked at the end of the first session whether you feel you would like to continue to work with me and whether you would like to commit to the process. I will also let you know whether I feel I can help you. Once committed to working together, we will both engage in a serious, fully-committed way to tackling your problems.

Who can it help?

This approach can help people dealing with many difficulties encountered in living. These include the following:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panic Attacks
  • Stress
  • Crises, such as bereavement
  • Relationship difficulties
  • A sense of meaninglessness
  • Life changes and disappointments
  • Dilemmas
This approach is suitable for individuals and couples.

How much does it cost?

My fees are on a sliding scale; please contact me for more information.

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