So What Happens in Counselling and Psychotherapy?
I guess if you are reading this you are considering counselling or psychotherapy and not sure if this is the right move for you.
Well done getting this far, something has been bothering you for a short or long while and the advice and support you have had from your friends, family and partner hasn’t really helped. Or they have been very supportive but you felt you couldn’t keep talking to them about your problems or they didn’t really understand what was bothering you.
Why undergo psychotherapy?
Sometimes, you might feel unable to talk to anyone regarding issues you have been thinking and worrying about because they may have happened along while ago or you have felt too ashamed to open up with anyone else. Or you may be telling yourself to “get over it” or “move on” or even “other people have worse lives than me what am I making such a fuss about”.
I have found in my work that people get in touch and come and see me when the above strategies, which have worked for a significant period of time, are no longer working and relationships with partners, family and friends are getting worse as a result.
Sometimes in order to cope with such difficult situations, people will self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, food, sex and self-harming in a further attempt to suppress these strong and unpleasant thoughts and feelings. Others may consider or attempt suicide to escape the pain, believing that this will solve their problems once and for all.
Most people find seeing their family doctor helps them a lot, as their doctor may have known them since they were children and have a thorough understanding, or may be enormously skilled and supportive in helping them through tough times. Pressure of time on doctors does mean that a consultation is often much shorter than both of you would wish for and referral for NHS counselling can mean a lengthy waiting list.
Finding a therapist
Counselling and Psychotherapy privately will cost in terms of time and money, some private therapists may offer concessionary rates for clients. However, it’s always worth checking to see if your employer offers or has access to Employee’s Assistance Programmes (EAP’s) which you may be able to self-refer via your Personnel or Human Resources Department. Students in full-time or part-time study can usually access counselling via Student Services at their University or College. These counselling services are usually free and offered for up to 6 weeks and sometimes may be extended for a further few weeks. There are also charities and voluntary organisations which can offer counselling free or for a donation, always worth checking local directories or surfing the net to see what’s available in your locality. Word of mouth or recommendation from a colleague, friend or family member is always helpful.
In the UK there is no legal requirement to hold a qualification in either counselling or psychotherapy so it’s important for you to check if your therapist has had recognised and validated training, most therapists will be more than glad to discuss this with you and tell you about what qualifications they do hold and what their area of experience and expertise is, and how long they have been in practise.
What happens during a regular session?
I’ll tell you a little about how I work. Once clients get in touch by email or phone I ask them why they have contacted me now and what has happened to them that they feel they want help. I then have a good idea as to whether I am the right person for them to see, or if I am not, I may suggest who they need to contact. If I feel I may be able to help I agree an initial consultation where we meet and mutually decide if we can work together. If we both decide to proceed then I will go through the business side of what’s involved and also answer the client’s questions about therapy. Often the therapists’ web site will give the client plenty of information, useful links and how they work. There are many modes or types of therapy on offer and reading about the different modalities may be helpful in deciding which might suit you.
We then will make an appointment for the 1st session together. Counselling and psychotherapy sessions usually last for 50 or 60 minutes and most therapists arrange to see their clients on a weekly or fortnightly basis. The first few sessions will involve a period of assessment and usually some form filling so the therapist can get a full picture of your situation so you can work out together the best course of action to address what’s been bothering you.
Your therapist may work on either a contractual or goal focussed basis, working with you to find a way through your distress and difficulty whilst evaluating how you are coping and if your symptoms are getting worse, staying the same or improving. So it’s really important that you let the therapist know how things are for you during this process.
Counselling or psychotherapy is very effective for most people who are struggling or distressed following significant negative life events, stuck in a rut or undecided about where they are in their lives, want to make changes but don’t know where to start, or having difficulties in relationships with others.
I wish you well on your journey and hope this short article has been of use to you and welcome positive and constructive feedback.
©Copyright 2013 by http://www.naturaltherapyforall.com Counselling St. Andrews All Rights Reserved.