Counselling

First Steps

Taking the first steps to find someone to talk to can be quite daunting especially when life may already feel overwhelming. Sometimes we can feel as though we are being catapulted from one thing to another as we struggle with day to day life, or face challenges within relationships and falling into the same unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

Making Connections Wellbeing was established to provide a safe, comfortable, non-judgemental and confidential space to enable individuals to explore and make the connections within their own lives. I strongly believe you are the expert of your own life and with support, I believe you can understand your inner-self, raise your awareness to live a more authentic life.

I work with a variety of clients entering counselling for many different reasons. I believe that people have the ability to heal themselves and grow within an environment of safety and free from judgement.

I understand how difficult these first steps into counselling can be, therefore please feel free to get in touch to see how counselling could benefit you.

Types of Counselling

1. Counselling

My work is client-centred with the aim of enabling individuals to focus on the present and understand what is happening in their lives right now. We will work together at a pace that is directed by you to become more mindful of what influences your thoughts and feelings, linking your bodily responses with your emotions. You will be encouraged to notice your physical and emotional responses, with attention being paid to those times when this might prove difficult, and how these responses may lead to useful insights and increased self-awareness.

2. Youth Counselling

The transition from childhood to adulthood is fuelled with hormone imbalances, mood swings, heartbreak and bewildering bodily changes. All of these make everyday problems overwhelming, especially combined with influences such as education, friendships and decision-making.

Common difficulties that are faced by young people are:

Low self-esteem
Depression and anxiety
Identity issues: gender, ethnicity or sexuality
Relationship issues at home or at school
Coping with the impact of abuse, both physical and emotional
Loss
Disability or disorder, including ADHD
Addiction
Anger

If any of these difficulties resonate with you, counselling can provide you with an opportunity to have the freedom to discuss whatever you would like with a totally independent person from the adults you already have in your life. However, there may be a time when you would like to include an adult, or we may find ourselves in a situation when other people have to be informed of a situation in order to keep you safe.

For Parents / Responsible Adult

To ensure that the young person is in charge of their counselling, generally, there will not be any incidental contact between adults and myself. If you would like to talk to the me, please ask the young person to request this. This ensures that the young person agrees, and has autonomy over the way they wish for this contact to take place. It is very important to the work that takes place that any contact does not undermine trusting relationship.

Confidentiality

The counselling that takes place with the young person is completely confidential. Information will only be shared outside the therapeutic relationship if the young person discloses something that puts them or others at risk. It is not usual for parents or other professionals to be involved in the young person’s counselling. You may find that your child becomes surprisingly open about their counselling and this can be used for you building a stronger relationship. It is important not pursue or pressurise the young person for information.

3. Sand Stories

Sand story work is a therapeutic intervention that makes use of a sandbox, figurines and sometimes water to create miniature worlds that reflect a person’s inner thoughts, struggles, and concerns through building their own narrative. This type of therapy is practiced alongside talking therapy, using the sand tray to communicate. Clients choose from a selection of artefacts’ and arrange them in the tray to build a scene. The counsellor will observe the choices and arrangements without interruption, allowing the individual to reflect and process their scene. The counsellor and client discuss the scene, choice of artefacts’ and their arrangement, whilst processing their symbolic or metaphoric meaning. During discussions clients may choose to make changes to their creative narrative in the sand.

4. Walk and Talk

It is well documented the advantages of nature. At the request of the client, walk and talk counselling can take place in a natural environment to combine the benefits of the outdoors into the therapeutic relationship.

Why Counselling?

Over the years I have heard so many time “he is going through a hard time, but he does not believe in counselling, he would never do that”.

Here are 6 common reasons why people may choose not to seek a counsellor and my accompanying thoughts.

I would rather talk to my family and friends
Absolutely, you should talk to your friends and family, they are vital support for us all when we experience times of difficulty. Counselling does not act as a source of friendship and neither does friendship work in the same way as the counselling relationship. The counselling relationship is provided by highly trained individuals that not only support, but challenges you, allowing you to gain insight into yourself.
It costs too much
Counselling can see like a costly investment in yourself, however this investment will challenge you thoughts and feelings which will allow you to grow and lead a more fulfilled life.
I don’t have the time
If you have feelings that can be overwhelming, consuming and are not going away then they are already taking a up a great deal of your time. Investing some time now will provide you with the opportunity to be able to move forward and give you back some quality, fulfilled time.
I saw a counsellor once and it didn’t work
All counsellors are individuals and therefore you and your chosen counsellor should have a good connection. There is no reason to think that the same thing will happen again with a new counsellor.
What good is talking going to do?
Making changes in our lives is possible, especially when you find an impartial person you completely trust to share your most intimate thoughts, feelings and experiences in a non-judgemental safe environment. The alliance you forge with your counsellor is a relationship that grows and develops, and it is then that permanent changes become possible.
It would be weird talking about my personal stuff with a stranger
Most counsellors are skilled at making their clients feel comfortable quickly. If you have some sessions with a counsellor and do not feel comfortable, you could discuss your concerns with your counsellor, or you could seek to find a different counsellor. Your counsellor would not be offended! The counselling relationship is both professional and personal and the alliance that you form is one of the most important parts of the work you do together.