Ousia Counselling & Psychotherapy

Counselling is a form of ‘talk therapy’ that provides a safe and confidential, non-judgemental space to talk to a trained professional about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and to explore the relationship with yourself and others.

Counselling is sometimes used to describe more short-term work that deals with current issues where as psychotherapy can go deeper into the root causes of issues which can take longer. However, these days often the terms are used interchangeably.

Counselling can help with a broad range of issues including helping with stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. It can help with bereavements, addiction, bullying, trauma, mental health and exploring sexual or gender identity. It can help you explore your problems and gain a deeper level of understanding. It can help build self -awareness, in the setting of goals for the future and support you deciding which direction you wish to travel in life.

Different issues may need different amounts of time. Some problems can resolve themselves in a matter of weeks whilst others may take many years. It is a good idea to give the therapy enough time to see if it is of benefit to you. Long term therapy can be ongoing whist it remains useful. The important thing is that you are benefitting from receiving it. Sometimes it can be useful to take a break and come back to it later, or experimenting with different therapist and modalities. Its important to find what works for you.

It is usual for a client to attend weekly. It will not be possible to attend less than this but in some circumstances, it may be possible to attend more than once a week.

It is usual for a session to be 50 minutes in length. This is known as the therapy hour because it leaves 10 minutes for the therapist to write up their notes. It is not possible to have a shorter session but, in some circumstances, a double session may be considered.

The very first session I will introduce myself a say a little about how I work. I will then ask whether you have any questions about my background, ways of working or qualifications. I will check that I am using the preferred name and pronouns.

I will carry out an assessment where we both decided whether we want to work with each other. The client assesses whether the therapist is someone they can trust and the therapist assesses whether they have the knowledge and experience to be of value to the client.

I will ask about previous experiences of counselling, family history, presenting issues, hopes and fears, and your desired outcome. I will also ask about any medication you are taking, use of non-proscribed drugs and your coping strategies and support networks.

I will then briefly go through the written contract and ask you to sign it. The contract mentions timings, fees, cancellations, intoxication, contact between sessions, ethics, confidentiality, GDPR and endings. It also asks for your GP contact details in case of emergency.

If we decide to have an on-going relationship, we will then find a weekly slot to work together.

I will usually start a counselling session by asking how you are, what feels important or if there is anything you wish to work on.

This is your time. It is up to you what you wish to talk about. We do not necessarily need to talk about the past or dig up old trauma. This is your time and we can take it at your pace. The priority is that you feel safe so that we can build up trust between us.

I am interested in working with clients who identify as being Neurodiverse. Within that category I am including those with Autism, ADHD, and complex trauma. I am also happy to take on clients presenting with other issues.

I wish to give clients an experience of being known, felt, and understood. Being born in to a world that does not understand you and invalidates your experience is traumatising. To not understand social rules, to feel ostracised by groups and to be hyper or hypo sensitive to light, sound and textures creates high levels of stress.

It is those with the power who decide what is normal and what is abnormal. When you experience reality differently to others it can cause fear in others when you express that reality. Neurodivergent people should be able to communicate their reality safely and without judgement from those who do not understand it.

I have worked with clients with issues related to:

alcoholism, anxiety, autism, bereavement, bullying, depression, eating disorders, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, guilt, illness, low self-esteem, money problems, paranoia, people pleasing, perfectionism, physical abuse, porn addiction, PTSD, sexual abuse, sexuality, shame, stress, transgender and workaholism.

If you contact me by phone, email, or the web form I will arrange an initial assessment. If we both decide that we would like to work together we can try and find a time that fits.

I would prefer to meet face to face but we can have therapy over Skype or Teams if that is your preference.