Working With Me
Initial Consultation
If you feel ready to take the first step, we'll have a 15-30 minute phone call to get acquainted. This friendly chat allows me to learn a bit about you and why you sought out counselling. I'll also share more about my integrative approach.
My goal is to ensure we're a good fit before our therapeutic journey formally starts. This is not about judging where you are at - rather discerning if my style of support resonates. We'll both determine if we click and if I can adequately meet your needs.
If it feels like a match, we'll schedule our first full 50 minute session.
What Is Integrative Counselling?
As an integrative counsellor, I draw from multiple therapeutic approaches to best fit your needs. This means flexibly blending concepts and practices from different modalities and theories.
Our work will focus on your specific life experiences, strengths, growth areas and goals. I don't stick rigidly to one technique. My approach is tailored to you, recognising the ways your mind, body, relationships and environment are interconnected, and supporting you towards greater wellbeing and positive change.
My integrative foundation ensures you get tailored support that meets you where you're at and offers diverse tools to guide your unique journey.
How I Work
I meet with clients in person from my office based in Berwick Upon Tweed. Online and telephone sessions provide flexibility for those who struggle with commutes or crowded spaces. Telephone and online work well if you are busy and find in-person counselling hard to fit into your schedule, or have mobility, transport or travel challenges in your area.
Online counselling offers convenience without commuting, saving time and costs. Video and phone can also increase privacy if your home allows a confidential dedicated room. The safety of private, recognisable surroundings promotes further rapport and self-disclosure. In all cases, my priority is cultivating a warm space for you to comfortably share and gain compassionate support aligned with your needs.
Telephone counselling is also beneficial if you feel uncomfortable making eye contact when talking about difficult topics. Speaking over the phone from the familiarity of your home may ease tensions when sharing vulnerable stories and emotions. Phone conversations create space to fully focus on yourself without visual distractions.
Why Seek Counselling?
You may consider counselling for support with:
Relationships
Counselling builds skills for communication, conflict resolution, intimacy and setting boundaries. If you struggle with a loved one, work, friend or partner, I help you develop and nurture healthy relationships.
Anxiety
Unrelenting worry/nervousness often signals anxiety. Counselling helps identify thought patterns triggering symptoms, and building coping strategies to manage them.
Depression
When sadness and hopelessness persist, counselling offers support, perspective and tools to regain joy and purpose.
Life Transitions
Whether career change, pregnancy, divorce or moving, counselling lends guidance through times of adjustment, fear and tension.
Grief/Loss
Grieving is a complex personal process. Counselling creates space for the often overwhelming emotions while building resilience.
Stress & Anger
Counselling teaches stress reduction while transforming anger into an empowering force, not a destructive one.
Trauma
Painful events can haunt; counselling is key to processing trauma, integrating memories and shifting distress.
I welcome you as you are, and then help you develop deeper self-awareness and coping mechanisms. With compassionate support, we'll untangle the roots of struggles so you can grow through what holds you back.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's normal to feel uncertain about needing counselling support. Signs you may benefit include persistent distressing emotions, negative thought patterns, relationship issues, trauma, major life changes, sleep/appetite changes, lack of motivation, etc. If these feelings consistently disrupt your life, meeting with a counsellor provides clarity.
Sessions involve compassionate listening as you share feelings, thoughts, challenges or situations troubling you. I offer empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and provide fresh perspectives and together we develop coping techniques to help you manage your emotions better. The goal is to build self-awareness, resilience and forward progress.
Yes, counselling involves a confidential relationship built on trust and privacy. Exceptions include danger to self/others, abuse, court orders or written consent to disclose information. But disclosure only occurs with care, consent and reason.
You'll need access to a private space for 50 uninterrupted minutes along with a phone for calls or a device for secure video chats. It is important that you have a comfortable space, completely free from distractions, for you to get the most out of your session.
Length varies based on personal factors and session goals. Issues like grief or life adjustments may take less time than childhood trauma or relationship patterns. We continually evaluate progress, and you decide when you feel empowered to continue the rest of your journey solo.
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