How Counselling Could Help You
Here at Oak Park Counselling we provide an environment that is free from judgement and assumption and instead a place that is safe, confidential and empathic. It is our belief that offering this environment will help you explore any issues you are facing and together, we can work through those issues and establish a sense of empowerment and positive mental well-being.
We understand from personal experience that finding a counsellor can be difficult and may even feel over-whelming. However, we would like to reassure you that, there is always help and support available that is right for you.
We offer support in such issues as anxiety, abuse, bereavement including loss of self, low self-esteem, hoarding, alcohol and substance misuse, relationship issues and many more.
What To Expect On Your First Session
Within the first session, we can discuss the reasons that brought you to therapy and how you are feeling and experiencing your emotions in the here and now. Your therapist will explain about confidentiality, including your rights as a client and how they work as a therapist. You and your counsellor will jointly establish a working agreement, setting out preferred methods of communication and your expectations of therapy. What we discuss in the sessions is down to you. They are your sessions and your therapist will work at a pace that suits you. There are no right or wrong answers in therapy, it is about you and your experiencing of an event and/or situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Person-centred counselling?
The Person-centred approach places focus on the client and the way they are feeling in the here and now. Established by Carl Rogers, the Person-centred approach has gone on to be one of the most recognisable and successful forms of therapy. It is the role of the counsellor to listen empathically to the client and view them with unconditional positive regard and work in an honest way. It is important for the client to bring themselves to therapy and want to engage. It is believed that with the right conditions and in the right environment, a client will be able to explore their emotions and their experiencing of them.
2. How can counselling help me?
Counselling is as unique as the client themselves and how you experience it depends on what you want to get out of it. Sometimes speaking with a person who is not emotionally involved can be beneficial as the focus remains on you, the client. For this reason, counselling allows space and an environment that is unconditional and supportive of your needs.
3. How many sessions is considered standard?
There is no set amount of sessions, every six weeks we will review our sessions and discuss future sessions or endings depending on where you are at.
4. Can I return to my counsellor if I decide I want more sessions?
Should you feel after deciding to end therapy that you would like to return, you can do so at any stage. Please just call or email me and I will arrange further appointments accordingly. You are always welcome, I operate an ‘open door’ policy.
5. How do I make a complaint?
If you have concerns or would like to make a complaint, you can do so by contacting the BACP on 01455 883300 or via email to complaints@bacp.co.uk quoting my registration number. All complaints are handled with care and professionalism.