Counselling

Some people say that counselling and psychotherapy are one and the same. I believe an integrated and holistic approach, as used in the Human Givens Psychotherapeutic framework, is the most effective, practical and solution focused way to help clients overcome a diverse range of both psychological and physcial challenges.

Effective counselling checklist:

This checklist, which has been prepared by the ethical committee of the European Therapay Studies Institute, may help you when deciding on taking up therapy with a counsellor or psychotherapist.

An effective psychotherapist or counsellor:

— knows how to build rapport quickly with distressed people

— understands depression and how to lift it

— helps immediately with anxiety problems including trauma or fear related symptoms

— is prepared to give advice if needed or asked for

— will not use jargon or 'psychobabble' or tell you that counselling or psychotherapy has to be 'painful'

— will not dwell unduly on the past

— will be supportive when difficult feelings emerge, but will not encourage people to get emotional beyond the normal need to 'let go' of any bottled up feelings

— may assist you to develop your social skills so that your needs for affection, friendship, pleasure, intimacy, connection to the wider community etc. can be better fulfilled

— will help you to draw and build on your own resources (which may prove greater than you thought)

— will be considerate of the effects of counselling on the people close to you

— may teach you to relax deeply

— may help you think about your problems in new and more empowering ways

— uses a wide range of techniques as appropriate

— may ask you to do things between sessions

— will take as few sessions as possible

— will increase your self confidence and independence and make sure you feel better after every consultation.