What is Psychotherapy and Counselling

What is Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling?

In order to function as best as we can and to be the person we strive to be, our mental, physical and emotional state need to be balanced. This is what the integrative approach does so well; a persons’ mental, physical and emotional state and needs are taken into account and worked with. Various tools and techniques, which are tailored to your needs, are used so you can explore and process the issues you experience and enable you to move forward and become a more fully functioning and person.

As an integrative therapist, I draw on a wide range of theories, tools and techniques, including person centred therapy, attachment theory and cognitive behavioural therapy. Depending on your personal needs and problems, I may also implement compassion focused therapy, mindfulness, relaxation and grounding techniques, acceptance and commitment therapy or life traps to relieve and heal old wounds. 

What counselling and psychotherapy can help you with

+ Opening up about your problems and fears and start exploring and understanding those

+Understanding your own thoughts, feelings/emotions and behaviour

+Finding solutions and developing new coping strategies 

+Being more compassionate towards yourself and others 

+ Feeling better about yourself and finding your balance in life 

+ Increase your self-confidence 

+ Reduce physical symptoms 

+ Finding yourself and become the person you strive to be

+ Relive and manage your anxiety, depression, anger etc.

+ Understand your past and how this can influence your behaviour today 

+ Understand your relationship with others and yourself 

+ Empowering you

+ Increase your happiness 

As the previous points show, counselling and psychotherapy can offer you so much. Add some commitment and don’t give up when it gets tough, practice the new learned skills and you will begin to grow into the person you strive to be. 

However please note, it is not within my capacity or my role, neither the role of counselling and psychotherapy, to give you advise or telling you how to live your life. 

Face to face counselling

Face to face counselling is the most common way of counselling. Although the pandemic showed a shift towards online and phone counselling, face to face sessions are still highly in demand. The sessions take place in a private and confidential setting. Face to face sessions, have the benefit of the counsellor being able to observe the nonverbal communication, giving cues of what is going on for you, how you are feeling (i.e. are you withdrawn, overwhelmed, showing physical signs of distress etc.) and hence giving room to explore what is going on for you. It is true that to some extent webcam counselling offers this as well, although mostly only facial cues can be picked up due to the focus of the camera. 

The sessions take place at an agreed day and time and they will typically last 50 minutes, unless agreed otherwise.

Online and phone counselling 

What is online counselling? 

Online counselling is a way for you to engage with therapy using the phone, email, online chat, video links or online platforms such as Zoom. You can choose the place where the sessions take place and which method you feel comfortable with. Please note, I only offer phone or Zoom therapy sessions. 

How it works

Webcam counselling 

Zoom is a platform where we will be able to see each other, all you need is a phone or a computer/laptop/tablet with a video camera. I can guide you of how to set up your Zoom account or you can also follow the steps of how to set up your Zoom account and how to join online Zoom meetings on their website. This service is encrypted and free to use, so you do not have any additional costs. You will receive an email form me, containing the link to our session. We will arrange a set day and time for our sessions, which will last 50 minutes. Being able to see each other gives you more of the benefits face to face counselling offers, but with the convenience of online therapy. By talking, you hear the tone of voice which is a way to convey empathy and by video you see non-verbal communications such as facial expressions. If you wish you can also choose to turn the camera off and the sessions would become then more like phone sessions. 

Phone counselling 

This is a form of counselling where we would hear each other. Although we would miss the non-verbal communication, phone counselling offers you nevertheless the opportunity to talk about your problems as well as feeling heard and understood. I support you along your journey and I can help you to understood your feelings and problems better as well as implementing new skills and strategies to help you feeling better. Phone receptions are usually good, however if you are effected by a poor phone reception, but you have a good internet signal, we can arrange Zoom sessions, with us attending the sessions using only audio and turning the camera off. 

Online counselling offers certain benefits but there are also limitations that are worth bearing in mind when deciding which type of therapy will best suit your needs.

Benefits

+ Therapy can take place from your own home if you live remotely or have difficulties leaving your home

+ The therapy takes place in a space that suits you and where you feel comfortable 

+ You will not be seen by others entering the counsellors practice

+ Secure inscription software offers confidentiality and peace of mind

+ Access to counselling may be more immediate

+ Flexibility to choose the technology you feel is best for you

+ Having back up options if the connection should break down during a session

Things to consider

+ Are you comfortable using internet technology?

+ Is there a computer terminal that you can use privately without interruption?

+ Do you have a place where we can talk uninterrupted? 

+ Is your WIFI password protected? Using open connections would mean that other people may be able to listen in.

+ Do you have enough internet bandwidth so we can use Zoom?

+ Do have enough data allowance per month?

+ Can you find child or pet care for the times of our sessions as this would give us the option to talk uninterruptedly. 

+ Are you happy for me to see the items and things that are visible when using Zoom?

+ Are you able to turn off any devises or other sources of noise during our sessions? 

+ Can you use the device you use hands free as we sometimes will use work sheets or creative art?