Counselling

       COUNSELLING   Brian Richards FdSc, MBACP

Counselling gives you the opportunity and time to explore the issues that may be troubling you, or holding you back in your everyday life.

It’s a process of personal exploration and discovery that helps you cope with difficult circumstances, making decisions, and helps empower you to make any necessary life changes.

It also gives you the opportunity to take stock of your values and beliefs, and decide how those factors are either working for you or against you.

Increasing your self-awareness gives you a better sense of who you are, what's been driving you, and the sort of changes you may need to make in order to feel more satisfied, fulfilled and authentic.  

The issues talked about are up to the client. You will not be judged and the process will involve listening, understanding, challenging unhelpful beliefs, and asking searching questions. The matters you raise are treated in confidence, although there are a few exceptions which will be explained at the outset.

There are several different counselling approaches, and some names may be familiar to you, such as CBT and Psychodynamic.

The type of counselling I offer is called Integrative. It's kind of like person-centred counselling with added extras. 

Integrative counselling begins by listening to your story and understanding your issues. The process of listening and understanding is ongoing throughout, but integrative counselling also incorporates various models of therapeutic approach (such as CBT) in a way that is appropriate to the needs of the individual client.

The success and usefulness of counselling is not only dependent on the counsellor, but also on the client’s willingness to engage with the process.

Clients are better to seek counselling when they have a genuine readiness and desire to explore their issues, rather than when they feel unduly coerced or pressured.

 

Integrative counselling is useful for:

•        Depression

•        Stress

•        Finding personal meaning

•        Facing difficult decisions

•        Relationship issues

•        Exploring how past issues are affecting the present

•        Finding clarity

•        Childhood and domestic abuse

•        Exploring beliefs, and whether those beliefs are valid or helpful           

•        Discovering and challenging your limitations

•        Anxiety

•        Phobias

•        Sex and Sexuality

•        When you feel stuck, limited or bored.

•        Discovering and creating yourself

•        Bereavement

•        Addictions 

•        Low self-esteem

•        Anger

Application for counselling can be made by phone call, text, email, website enquiry form on the "Contact us" page, or private facebook message. 

A free 30 minute face-to-face consultation is available to those wondering if counselling is for them, and to ask any questions.  

At the present time I am offering counselling to adults only (18 and over).

Counselling normally takes place at the same time each week and lasts for 60 minutes a session. Potential clients are advised to be realistic and committed in the time they choose for counselling.

Counselling can be taken over a pre-agreed number of weeks or can be taken on a week by week basis with regular check-ins to see how things are going.

The role of a counsellor should not be confused with that of a social worker, benefits advisor, housing officer, or Citizens Advice.

I am unable to offer specific advice on benefits, housing, legal matters, court cases, medical issues and finances, although you are welcome to talk about how you feel about these things.

My training in counselling lasted four and a half years and included over 100 counselling sessions with members of the public who were genuine clients. I now have a foundation degree in counselling and operate from a private room at my home address in Runcorn.

As a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists I strive to adhere to their ethical framework, details of which can be found on their website.

The fees for each session are £30, though students under 25years of age can access counselling for just £20 per session.

Couples counselling is also just £30 per session

In certain circumstances a mobile service may be available, where I can come to you. This is surcharged at £5

(See also the tab/page "Courses" for two short courses entitled "Who am I ?" and "Mid-life Matters")