I have worked as a counsellor or psychotherapist for individuals and couples and that has been my business full time since 1993.
Therapy is provided, according to need, short term and long term.
It is provided privately, for a significant number of Employee Assistance Programme businesses, Insurance companies and other occupational health services and in an NHS Health Centre in West Lothian.
During these years I became interested particularly in working with male and female survivors of childhood abuse. This developed also from an interest in the long term effects of trauma resulting in post traumatic stress disorder.
After over 30 years counselling, I have no doubt that the most important part of counselling that can lead to change, healing, a return to coping, or even a transformation in a way of living and thinking bout oneself, is the relationship you form with your counsellor.
I know now that I tend to think in what is called psychodynamic terms and place a great deal of my focus on how we come to be the persons and personalities we are. I think it is inescapable that we learn this when we see ourselves echoed in the faces of the first adults in our lives or when we experience the agony of not being echoed in their eyes. I have come to believe that we are not fully human except in relationship to other human beings. Counselling is a special kind of that relating and it can be both reparative and aid our further development.
The counselling or therapeutic relationship is essential then and the way I think of that space between us is that it gradually builds a mirror in which you get to see yourself more clearly or at least to see what has occurred that shapes who you are. The idea here is that if you see something in this way you may be able to do something about it – I cannot do it for you, of course! And yet, I still think that the special kind of relationship that counselling creates, does itself bring about change.
So, making an appointment for a face to face exploration could be the most important step you take. If you do this, then you will get a good idea as to whether the helper is the right one for you. Of course, I will also get an idea as to whether what I have to offer matches what you perceive are your needs.
Most sessions last up to 60 minutes and agreements tend to be made for up to six sessions before a review is made to see if both persons feel that there is value in continuing work together. But make no mistake, it is work!
Please give me a call on 0131 334 6412.
