Counselling can make a positive change to your life. Within a very short space of time, your life can change for the better! Discover how good it feels to be in control, to be able to make choices about the course of your life. 

 

If you are reading this because you want to make changes to your life then pick up the ‘phone and call me on: 

01438 832 957 - you can then decide if you would like to explore further. Based in Hertfordshire, within easy reach of North London, Bucks, Beds & Essex. 

 

 

Each of us is a unique individual, capable of achieving far more than we realise, counselling enables us to understand ourselves on a deeper level, helps us discover our gifts and abilities, to become happier, healthier and more fulfilled in our lives and relationships. As children going to school we learn to read and write, to try to achieve the best possible grades, high IQ is all-important, and very little attention is paid to emotional intelligence, EQ. - But without emotional intelligence we often experience difficulty in understanding our own and others’ behaviour. In helping people resolve their problems I use a mixture of Counselling and Hypnotherapy, as well as incorporating the use of CBT and other elements of psychotherapy. 

 

"Counselling offers the opportunity to explore how to achieve close and loving relationships, to understand how and why we are as we are, what we experienced as children, how we were parented, and what we need as adults." 

Mental Health  

 

Part of my client work is with people who have mental health problems, for example, clinical depression, bi-polar disorder, or some other condition requiring medical care. Provided the client’s GP and/or psychiatrist are involved I will work with these issues.  

 

"Clients usually find their sessions with me are of enormous benefit as they are given time to explore in their own way issues which trouble them. Often their experience of psychiatric care is that no one is there to really listen, all too often they are simply medicated, and left!"  

 

My experience is that therapy is extremely valuable for this client section, offering a safe space in which to be.  

Relationships 

 

Counselling undoubtedly can help improve our relationships. Relationships form the most important part of our life. We all need to relate to others, especially those closest, partners, children, parents. Most of us have a strong and healthy desire to love and be loved, and yet it is often so difficult for many people. 

 

Counselling offers the opportunity to explore how to achieve close and loving relationships, to understand how and why we are as we are, what we experienced as children, how we were parented, and what we need as adults. Very quickly most of us are able to gain understanding and to move into happier relationships with those closest to us. Many people experience relationship difficulties at work, sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying which can cause enormous distress. Understanding how and why we relate to others can help to resolve these issues. 

 

 

Alcohol / Drug Problems 

 

Counselling helps address alcohol/substance problems. Nowadays mood-altering substances are easily available. For those under the age of forty most will have experimented with alcohol and other substances. Fortunately most people don’t have a problem in keeping use under control, but many do experience great difficulty. 

 

"There is always a very good reason why someone has a problem with alcohol and/or drugs. Therapy can successfully help you to understand why and to learn new ways of dealing with difficulties instead of using the familiar and harmful form of escape from reality."  

 

I have counselled many people who have gone on to live healthy and happy lives, free from alcohol and/or whatever substance they used. It is very rewarding to see someone who has been stuck in their addiction develop into fully rounded, happy, intelligent, creative people. 

PTSD/Trauma 

 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which can affect you when you have had a traumatic experience. This is often a life-threatening experience where you have felt completely out of control and that your life or someone else’s is in danger. This could be a road traffic accident, child or adult sexual or physical abuse, military/combat exposure, terrorist attack, natural disasters, flood, earthquake. 

 

After the event, you may feel scared, confused, or angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities. 

 

How does PTSD develop? 

 

When we experience extreme emotions caused by a traumatic event there are changes in the brain that may cause PTSD. Not everyone will develop PTSD and it is not clear why. It is important to get help if you have any symptoms which are causing you distress as a result of trauma. 

 

Often when someone has experienced a traumatic event they are left with symptoms of unresolved trauma. These may be symptoms such as depression, poor sleep, poor appetite, low energy, high anxiety, avoidance, numbness as well as suicidal thoughts. People often feel guilty, think they must be stupid not to be able to get on with their life. It is not stupid and it is important to get help. 

 

With the right help these symptoms can be greatly alleviated or disappear altogether, please call on: 01438 832 957