About Counselling

If you have any questions which are not answered here, please get in touch.

How do I know that I may need counselling? This will be different for everyone, but events that may lead you to seek counselling and some of the signs that it may be beneficial could include:

• Bereavement
• Sudden change in circumstances, for example a job change or having to relocate
• Discovering that your hopes and plans for life are not possible
• Avoidance of certain people or situations due to anxiety
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping more than usual
• Rapid and regular change in mood
• Lack of motivation often and even for minor tasks
• Using food, alcohol or drugs to self ‘medicate’

How can counselling help? It provides somewhere safe for you to really explore your feelings and learn what is causing them. You will be provided with a unique professional relationship where you will be listened to, heard and understood and helped to discover ways to work through what you are finding difficult.

Is counselling confidential? There are certain situations when confidentiality will need to be broken and these include for reasons of safeguarding, money laundering, if terrorism is disclosed or for road traffic offences. Your counselling may be discussed with a supervisor but you will remain completely anonymous during these conversations, unless it is one of the situations mentioned.

What is Person Centred Counselling? Person Centred Counselling is a way of working developed by Carl Rogers. Your counsellor is not an expert on you, but someone to work with you and facilitate your growth. Your counselling sessions focus on what you would like to focus on and are not pre planned with a set schedule. As your counsellor I will work with you to help you find the way forward.

What qualifications do you have? I have Level 2 Introduction to Counselling, Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling. I also do regular training through workshops in person and online.

Do you work with any specific issues? What have you worked with? I work with many issues, including but not limited to: anxiety, bereavement, low mood, low self esteem, self harm, stress, rejection, ocd and self confidence. I have a particular interest and personal experience in working through mid life and also in bereavement, grief and loss. If you have a specific topic you wish to cover and I feel I am not the best person to work with this, I will always let you know and if possible I will refer you on to a counsellor or counselling service who may be more suitable for you.

What organisations are you registered with? I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP – http://www.bacp.co.uk). I work within their code of ethics at all times. I am also registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), hold a DBS Certificate and have public liability and indemnity insurance.

Social media
I have accounts on both Instagram and Facebook which are used for sharing general mental health information and to raise awareness of specific topics. I also share posts from others which I feel may be useful. These accounts are intended to be used for information only and are not a replacement for counselling. Counselling is a professional relationship and I therefore do not add or follow any clients (past or current) on social media.

Where are face to face counselling sessions held?
All face to face counselling sessions are held in a room in central Southampton. The room is within a grade II listed building, 15 Rockstone Place, SO15. The building is accessed via 8 steps. The room is then reached either by a small lift or 55 stairs up the central staircase. Please be aware that, unfortunately, there is no completely step free access into the building. Toilets are available.