What is Counselling?
Counselling is an opportunity for an open and frank discussion about anything that is on your mind. You will have a chance to speak and be heard in an empathic, confidential, discreet, non- judgmental relationship which holds you with the utmost respect and in unconditional positive regard.
Counselling does not represent a clinical, diagnostic or advisory services, however. The process of counselling places you in the driver’s seat and your success relies solely on your willingness to work as a team together and on the goals that you will identify and set. Success is in your hands and as such is also your responsibility. The role of the counsellor is to provide you with the most effective guidance towards the solutions you seek.
Process
Counselling is best when not just a one-off chat, although you might feel better after the first few meetings. Counselling is a process with a beginning, middle and end that is best passed through sequentially and consistently in order to achieve the best and most long-lasting results. A typical process can involve:
- Initial Interview and History-taking meeting
- Any beneficial or necessary Assessments
- Objective Goal Setting
- In-session Activities
- Inter-sessional Activities
- Learning how to carry on for yourself after we have achieved our initial goals
- Conclusions and agreeing how we will reconnect to maintain forward movement
Sessions
Sessions last for 50 minutes with the exception of the first meeting, which as an interview and information gathering process, may last for up to an hour and a half.
Ideally meeting once a week can help to gain momentum and build on your strengths from week to week.
Depending on your goals, Counselling work together could last from between six to 12 weeks, and in some instances longer, but our aim is to always work towards an identified solution as efficiently and expediently as practicably possible.
Interventions
Our counsellors are trained and experienced in a number of therapeutic interventions and work to select the intervention that best suits the situation that presents itself with each unique enquiry. Some of the interventions used include:
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Motivational Interviewing | Appreciative Inquiry |
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy | Brief/Solution Focused Therapy | Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy |
| Play Therapy | Bowen Family Systems | Hypnotherapy |
| Arts and Drama Therapy | Mindfullness Techniques |
Topics for Counselling
Counselling is suitable for a very broad range of topics and each counsellor will have additional specialist topics they work with as well such as trauma, identity, addictions or careers counselling. Below are a range of typical issues that come up for counselling, but there are many more that can successfully be supported in a counselling relationship.
| Relationship | Grief/Loss | Weight Loss | Sadness |
| Motivation | Stress | Bullying | Anger Management |
| Self-Esteem | Self-Awareness | Self-Improvement | Self-Acceptance |
| Adjustment Issues | Exam Stress & Pressure | Sleep Hygiene | Academic/Learning Issues |
| Social Skills Training | Educational Guidance | Despair for the Future | Managing Health |
| Worry | Loneliness | Feelings of Rejection | Low Mood |
| Smoking Cessation | Depression | Sexual Identity | Assertiveness Training |
Counselling with Psynamo
We offer discrete, professional, empathic and confidential counselling services for all of your queries from age six and upwards through the lifespan. Our counselling services provide a safe and neutral environment in which to explore any issues that may be prominent in your life. Counselling is a practice that is suitable for a range of enquires that are not clinically based. We work to ensure top ethical standards are in play with all of our counselling staff as well as a non-judgmental stance. Call today if you would like to learn more or make an appointment just to speak with someone. Your enquiries will always be held in the strictest of confidence.