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Counselling

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Counselling is a place to take and things that are impacting on you, your life and your relationships.

 

In counselling, you unpack and explore them, privately and safely, with a knowledgeable professional who can help you make sense of them. 

 

Through coming to counselling and exploring our experiences through talking, we can come to know and accept ourselves, problem solve, and feel safer and happier in how we relate to others.  We can find new ways of being in, and responding to, the world around us.  We can challenge and our fears and behaviours, and change, shape or rebuild our lives in new, more authentic, and happier ways .​

My Practice

I hold counselling sessions online using the videocall platform Zoom.  To join me for sessions, you don't need a Zoom account, but you will need a device or computer with a camera, microphone, speakers/headphones, and a reliable WIFI connection.  You will also need a private space in which to have your session, where you can talk freely. 

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Weekly sessions are usual, especially while establishing a new working relationship, but there is also the potential to meet fortnightly, where appropriate. For more information about fees click here

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If you would like to enquire about sessions, or if you have any questions about how we might work together, you can contact me here.

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About counselling and what to expect.

All practitioners work with similar guiding values and have similar training, but they will also go on to specialize in different areas and pursue particular interests and methods of practicing.

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Some examples of types of counselling you may have heard of include CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy), humanistic counselling or psychodynamic counselling.  Often a counsellor will be competent in a number of backgrounds and work 'integratively' where they draw on different skills in their background to support each person in ways that are as individual as their client is. 

Counselling can be useful for individuals, couples, families and groups, and for a wide range of issues, such as mild depression, identity questioning, relationship change and grieving,  through to significant trauma and chronic and acute mental and physical illness.  While people seeking counselling are sometimes triaged by services to ensure anyone at risk is seen as soon as possible, there is no hierarchy to our issues.  In the counselling room, what you bring is always valid and important, and not considered in relation to anyone else.   

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In counselling you can expect to be heard, respected and accepted, in whatever you bring to therapy.  Your counsellor may sometimes offer supportive challenge, as you explore ideas as part of your work.  Your counsellor will usually start by introducing themselves and explaining a little bit about their background.  They will also go over what you can expect from each other and the work, as well as any practical issues like fees, payment, cancellations, contact and confidentiality.  This forms the basis for a therapeutic contract and may be verbal or written.  This exists to provide a safe framework for the counselling, so the focus in sessions can be on whatever you bring. 

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What you bring to counselling is confidential within the therapeutic contract.  However there are some limitations to confidentiality.  If there is a risk of harm either to the self, or to others the counsellor may need to break this confidentiality.  This is only done under extreme circumstances and with every possible effort to discuss any disclosure with you before-hand. 

 

© Ruth Hill Counselling 2022

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