Relationships between people form the basis of our daily lives.   We require this contact with others, the sense of respect and value it produces and the needs it fulfils, yet forming and maintaining these essential relationships is often difficult.   When our relational needs are not satisfied we can experience feelings of emptiness, loneliness, longing, and intense urges often accompanied by nervousness.   These difficult feelings can become overwhelming and lead to anxiety, panic attacks, social phobias, addiction and depression.

Experienced counsellors are able to share and help make sense of your emotional problems.   They offer non-judgemental support and can provide a sense of stability to get you through difficult times.   Therapeutic work is often focussed on developing levels of self-awareness and understanding, as well as changing or expanding thinking patterns and behaviours.

I offer a private, safe and comfortable space where we can talk over your problems.   We are all unique individuals and need access to different therapeutic approaches and techniques to discover what is most helpful to us. Through a series of sessions we can examine your difficulties and together discover solutions that work for you.

Other types of counselling
Telephone Counselling can be a good way to access the support you need if you are restricted by mobility problems or illness, live some distance away from a major town, or have difficulties with transport.   Some people actually find it easier to talk to someone over the telephone than to meet them face-to-face.   In many cases telephone counselling can offer a lifeline when, for a variety of reasons, face to face counselling is either temporarily or normally not an option.

Telephone counselling sessions last for 60 minutes and like face to face counselling take place once a week.   All calls are by prior arrangement and sessions are normally held at the same time and on the same day each week, although in certain circumstances where this is not possible other arrangements may be made.   Telephone calls are best made land line to land line as, depending on your call package, this is often free and the signal is reliable.   I also use Skype with some clients, with or without a video link.

Online counselling is another alternative to more traditional approaches and like telephone counselling is suitable if you are restricted by mobility or health problems, live some distance away from a major town or have difficulties with transport.   Counselling online using the written word gives you time to reflect upon things and work at your own pace.   It also enables you to keep and reread emails between sessions and even after our work has ended.

For many, working in cyberspace feels familiar and comfortable, which means it is easier to relax quickly and focus on the therapy work.   The first two e-mail communications between us are free and I ask that you limit your document length to a maximum of two pages.   If after the first two e-mails you decide to continue with internet counselling, you can purchase the service in advance.

Walk and Talk Weekends  Recent research suggests that exercise outside in a pleasant environment with sensory stimulation, fresh air, natural light, wild or domesticated animals and plants can improve our mental wellbeing by enhancing mood and self-esteem and reducing feelings of anger, confusion, depression, anxiety, tension and fatigue.   This type of exercise also encourages natural and social connections but crucially the combination of exercise and engagement with nature add up to more than the benefits of either alone.   If you add counselling to this mix you have a powerful forum for improving psychological health.

I am fortunate to live in a very beautiful part of Cumbria with many local footpaths and ancient byways.   On Walk and Talk weekends counselling sessions take place either outside in these calming and quiet landscapes or inside in a comfortable relaxing space with wonderful views of the Pennines and The Eden Valley.

Weekends are structured to meet your individual needs but typically consist of either two 1 hour sessions each day, one in the morning and the second in the afternoon/early evening, or a longer 2 hour session once a day.   For clients who want a less intensive approach daily sessions of 1˝ hours each are an alternative.   This allows for a total of 6-8 hours therapy over four days.

Follow up weekends may be required but where this is not possible further sessions could take place by telephone or on-line.   In some cases, where longer term psychotherapy seems appropriate, I may suggest you contact a therapist nearer to your home.

Information about different types of local accommodation, restaurants and places of interest are available if you require them.

For more information please contact me.