Why counselling and psychotherapy? 

Individuals with psychological problems experience high levels of stress and feel as though they are struggling to cope. Counselling and psychotherapy can help resolve their problems. They often feel they are alone in their struggling. These problems, however, are common. For example, one in five Britons are reportedly depressed at some point in their lives.

Many people find that during difficult times their close family and friends are just too close. They need support from an impartial professional.

People seek therapy for:

• Depression
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Intense fears
• Eating disorders
• Sleep problems
• Relationship problems
• Bereavement
• Other difficult life experiences

I see psychological problems as being a part of normal life. The people who come to see me are not ‘going crazy’, ‘mad’ or ‘losing it’. The degree of their distress usually reflects the difficulties they are currently facing. When we are under a great deal of pressure and feeling very low about something, we act differently than when we are on top of life’s challenges and reasonably happy. At times we all experience great challenges in our lives and need someone to help us to get on top of them.

Some people may seek help for relatively recent issues while others want to work on experiences that took place long ago.

Some have no major on-going problems but want to increase their self-awareness and goals. They may feel, for example, that they are a bit stuck in their career or could be living a fuller life.

Not all people experiencing psychological problems seek and need counselling or psychotherapy. Some do not want to solve their problems through talking to a psychologist. That is fine. Therapy is not for all. It is one option in a range of possible approaches to dealing with problems.