What is Counselling ?

Counselling

Counselling is a process usually involving weekly meetings with a trained therapist where you can explore issues affecting your life. The counsellor listens in a non-judgmental way accepting you each week just the way you are. This facilitates a therapeutic process where issues negatively affecting you can be honestly explored. This relationship with the counsellor is very different to ordinary social or personal relationships where it may be difficult to say how you really feel.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a process similar to counselling involving weekly meetings with a trained therapist. In psychotherapy we work together to explore deeper psychological issues and their possible causes. Psychotherapy is often a longer process than counselling and can continue for longer than a year. The length of time is decided by you.

Clinical Supervision

Supervision is an integral part of good practice in any discipline. It has always been viewed as necessary in order to deal with issues arising as part of our work. At counselling connections we are pleased to offer cross professional supervision including supervision of professions such as; counsellors, psychotherapists, teachers, nurses, pastoral care workers, special needs assistants and crèche workers. Supervision provides the space to work through issues arising from your work and also ensures best practice. It is a supportive place for professionals to discuss their clinical work and where the welfare of clients and the quality of the service they receive is central.

Our approach

Our approach is humanistic, integrative and psychodynamic; informed by psychoanalysis and incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy.

Humanistic. The humanistic approach treats the whole person, holding the belief in the potential for personal growth and change in a respectful, non-judgemental therapeutic relationship.

Integrative. The integrative approach involves bringing together different therapeutic approaches to suit your particular needs at any given time.

Psychodynamic. The psychodynamic approach explores deeper psychological issues and seeks to uncover unconscious motivations which may drive how we behave.

Psychoanalysis. The psychoanalytic approach concentrates on the unconscious; accessing this through talking freely in an uncensored way and through dream analysis.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The CBT approach is a collaborative, solution focused and often short term therapy which aims to equip you with tools necessary to deal with issues which are negatively affecting your life. The basis for CBT is the concept that how we think, feel and behave all interact.