Psychological Therapies

Counselling/Psychotherapy

It can take a lot of courage to recognise something about ourselves that we want to change - and even more courage to seek help in making that change.

Problems that we hold on to prevent true harmony in our lives, creating the illusion of 'the only way it can be'. It is, however, possible to develop new solutions to old problems - though this is not always a simple matter. Clients should first address what they want to get from the process.

Clients who seek psychotherapy and counselling at the Coleby Centre can achieve help in:

Clarifying emotions
Understanding their actions - past and present
Identifying needs and wants
Untangling problems that hold them back
Experimenting with new ways of being themselves
Developed better ways of living
Found new responses to old problems
Found new ways of seeing and thinking about themselves, others and life

WE SHALL OVERCOME

Counselling and psychotherapy is for anyone who has behavioural issues they would like to change. Others may feel as if an invisible wall is preventing them from moving forward in an area of their life. Some people consider themselves to be 'existing' rather than 'living', or feel unhappy most of the time.

Counselling and psychotherapy can provide real enlightenment to all these groups - enabling the client to live a full and happy life, with a little help!

Individuals, couples, children and teens can all benefit from these therapies.

Counselling and psychotherapy is the name of a process managed within a relationship of trust and safety. In a society where to talk about yourself is often scorned, in this safe environment the client is encouraged to talk about themselves, their life, who they are, what they do and how they feel. Sessions are completely focused on the individual.

There is no advice given and certainly no magic wand or simple problem solving. The aim of psychotherapy and counselling is to assist the client in becoming the person they want to be or feel they really can be.

It is about overcoming obstacles and blocks, about living in the here and now, and about enjoying life in a more fulfilling way. Psychotherapy works on a much deeper level than just making changes to behaviour; it involves major input from the client to accomplish the desired results.

While this process can enable dramatic positive changes to the way a person feels, it isn’t about 'a cure' or identifying 'what’s wrong with you'. This therapy is about helping the client move from where they are to where they want to be.

UNDERLYING CAUSE AND EFFECT

The therapy process will help the client discover underlying causes of behaviour, patterns of thinking and self-perception. This takes effort on the part of both therapist and client. Whether suffering from anxiety, unhappiness, stress, emotional frustration or pain - the causes can be wide ranging.

Together client and therapist will develop a strong and trusting relationship, providing a safe environment in which to explore the situation.

Counselling and psychotherapy falls into many categories:

Adult psychotherapy
Child counselling and play therapy
Child hypnosis
Sex and relationship therapy
Relationship counselling
Professional stress consultation
Grief and bereavement counselling
Drug and alcohol counselling
Adolescent counselling

TIME FOR ANSWERS

Therapy takes however long is necessary. Some people like to work through their issues in a systematic and speedy fashion, others prefer to work at a slower pace.

Change occurs when the client is ready to handle it - so it's different for everyone. Some people complete a course of therapy in a few sessions, others continue for months and years.

Clients achieve 'whatever they want to' from counselling. People who have experienced a course of counselling and psychotherapy have said that it:

Clarified their emotions
Enabled them to understand why they had been doing the things they had
Identified their needs and wants
Untangled problems that were holding them back
Allowed them to experiment with new ways of being themselves
Helped them to develop new and better ways of living
Provided them with new responses to old problems
Opened their eyes to new ways of seeing and thinking about themselves, about others and about life.

QUALIFIED INPUT

Traditionally a counsellor trains for three years and a psychotherapist for four to five years and often has a degree in psychology. Counselling tends to be focused on a current issue and psychotherapy tends to be a deeper, more far-reaching examination of who the client is and all areas of their life.

Currently, anyone can call themselves a counsellor as there are no government regulations regarding alternative therapies. However, there are four regulating and governing bodies in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. All Coleby Centre therapists belong to at least one of these organisations:

BACP - British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy
UKCP - United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
BAP - British Association of Psychotherapists
BPS - British Psychological Society
BASRT - British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy

This means all Coleby counsellors and psychotherapists are monitored on a regular basis, have completed comprehensive training and been awarded a qualification. They are also required to complete ongoing professional development and adhere to a strict code of ethics.

A counselling service is available on the NHS but waiting lists tend to be extremely long. Choosing a private therapist allows the client to make appointments to suit their own schedule, keeping the course of therapy under their own control.