You may be wondering what to expect from counselling and whether counselling is right for you at this point in your life. There are different approaches to counselling, so it's important to find the approach that works best for you. A good relationship between counsellor and client is the key aspect of counselling, so it's equally important to find a counsellor with whom you feel engaged and comfortable.

People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. Some come looking for clarification and understanding of a specific feeling, event or difficulty. Others come with more generalised anxiety, unhappiness or dissatisfaction with the situations or relationships in which they find themselves. Regardless of your reason for coming, age or stage of life, counselling offers the same benefits.

Our busy lives often deprive us of the chance to fully focus, and some of our routine interactions can leave us feeling ignored or misunderstood. A counselling session is your time and space, free from all the usual interruptions of day-to-day life. There is empathy rather than judgement, creating a safe space in which we can, together, explore anything you bring. Often the simple act of being heard and understood leads to a greater understanding of ourselves and our behaviours. In some cases this helps us work out how to move forwards, and in others helps us accept where we are.

Counselling is not about giving advice or answers. The 'person-centered' counselling approach includes the belief that you are the expert in your own life and with time and space and support can find your own way forward.