Therapeutic Counselling Service

Available to Adults - Couples - Children

"Talking may Uncover the Answer"

What is Counselling?
Counselling is a process which involves skills of caring and listening and prompting. A counsellor will be supportive but give little or no direct advice, since the aim is to help the individual to develop insights into their own problems.

Through talking and sharing a person is helped to explore their thoughts, possibly difficult or painful feelings and related behaviours and thereby reach a clearer self understanding. During this exploration the person is helped to find and use their inner resources and strengths so that they can cope more effectively with life by making appropriate decisions and taking relevant action.

Longer term counselling tends to deal with more deep-seated personal issues which may bring about really profound changes and the healing of old hurts. In the process of therapy the person is encouraged to look closely at their past, their childhood and their relationships with their parents and other important people. This exploration helps increase awareness and understanding of current patterns and negative habits that may have become unconscious, daily habits and so lead to possible change and self-growth.

“Professional & Confidential Practice”

What Is Offered? A range of therapeutic approaches are offered and can be selected to meet the needs of each individual client.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) This therapy is based on the concept that the way we think (cognitive) about things affects how we feel emotionally and how we act (the behaviour). While it recognises that past events may influence present thoughts and behaviours it focuses on alleviating difficulties in the here and now. The counsellor helps the client to identify, question and change negative or self-destructive thoughts, thus altering habitual responses and behaviour. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy thus focuses on present thinking, behaviour and communication rather than on past experiences and is orientated towards problem solving (goal orientated). It is usually a more short term approach to problems such as phobias, panic attacks, obsessions and addictions.

Integrative Approach Many of our team members have trained at LIFE-FORCE and are therefore able to offer an integrative approach to counselling. This way of working is based on the Humanistic/Rogerian approach where the therapy is client-led, while at the same time the counsellor draws on and integrates other theories such as the psychodynamic model into their practice. This means the counsellor can provide a more interactive exchange which is still non-analytical, yet is adaptable to suit the needs of each individual client. The client is encouraged to explore their feelings and take responsibility for their thoughts and actions, with an emphasis on self-development and achieving their highest potential through creative exploration to resolve personal issues. The work can be both short or long term depending upon which will be of most benefit to the client.

Person-Centred Approach Person-centred Therapy (also known as Client-Centred, or Rogerian Therapy) is based on the fundamental belief that human beings are essentially trustworthy, social and creative and that given the right conditions can reach their full potential for growth The counsellor, by providing the core conditions of empathy, acceptance and honesty, creates a safe space within which the client can freely express their problems, difficult emotions and feelings. The Person-centred approach takes the view that the client knows best with regard to themselves & their inner world and therefore the counsellor’s approach is non-directive enabling the client to explore issues and gain self-understanding plus greater self-esteem. The long term aim of this particular approach is the development of inner resources and the ability to perceive oneself as a whole person with the power and freedom to grow & change.

Person-Centred Therapeutic Art Work Some therapist's also offer therapeutic use of art as a powerful and effective means of self exploration and personal growth.

Psychodynamic Approach Psychodynamic counselling is based on the importance of the unconscious and past experiences and how these can both influence and determine current behaviours, often creating inner conflict and undesirable reactions. The term psychodynamic means ‘of/or pertaining to the laws of mental actions’, implying there is a link between mind and action. The counsellor therefore encourages the exploration of difficult childhood relationships so that the client becomes aware of how these previous experiences are causing the compulsion to repeat past behaviours. The counsellor works in a more analytical style and makes use of the client/counsellor relationship in a way that aims to help the client gain insight into current relationship issues and problems. This type of counselling generally tends to be longer term to allow time for the client to work through past issues to a point of awareness and the potential for conscious change.

Couples Counselling Couples counselling offers the parties in a relationship to work through their difficulties with a counsellor trained in this area of work. Couples counselling is for any couple experiencing conflict in their relationship. This relationship may not necessarily be an intimate relationship - it can for example be between family members, or workplace relationships between colleagues or employee/employer. The counsellor acts as a facilitator to help the couples identify areas of conflict and stuck patterns of communication and behaviour, providing a safe space where both parties can express their perceptions and expectations of the relationship. The aim is to help the couple come to a mutually suitable outcome, helping the couple to decide on what changes in behaviour and communication will help to resolve the problems. If the couple decide to separate or divorce then the counsellor can provide emotional support to help the couple negotiate through this painful process.

“Struggling With Everyday Issues?”

When Can It Help? We offer counselling to people of all ages, men, women, children, and couples from any kind of background, at any stage in their life.

Here are some of the problems it can help with:

“Having Someone To Talk to May be The Way Ahead”

Client Feedback

“Amazing service. Life changing!”

“I can only say good things about my experience with LIFE-FORCE. Thank you.”

“Having a caring, understanding person to speak to has helped me on my way to recovery from a sad time.”