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Areas of counselling

The areas of counselling that we deal with include:

Abuse (Emotional, Psychological, Physical, Sexual)

No matter what type of abuse is experienced or witnessed, it can be very distressing for a person to go through.  People often only think of physical or sexual abuse, however emotional and psychological abuse can also leave very deep scars.  Counselling can help people to work through the trauma of the experience that they have gone through and help them to re build their self-belief and confidence.  It can assist people in their understanding that things were not their fault and give them a space where they can be heard.

Addictions (Alcohol, Drugs, Exercise, Gambling, Shopping, Smoking, Sex, Work)

People often become addicted to something as a way of trying to get some kind of control in their lives.  The irony is that the addiction leaves them feeling more out of control in the end.  Whether it is exercise, drugs, gambling, shopping or sex, people turn to focusing on one area as a diversion from what they are experiencing.  This could for example be a relationship break down,  bereavement or loss of a job.  Either way counselling can help people to look at what they are really feeling and experiencing, and assist them as they work through this and as they give up their addiction. Counselling supports people in the process of letting the addiction go.

Anger management

People often come for counselling to help them to deal with anger and the way that they are expressing it.  Anger management counselling is about teaching people that anger can be expressed in a healthy way and that it is possible to be angry without being destructive.  Counselling helps people to get more in touch with their feelings and to express them, rather then bottling them up and exploding in an aggressive and negative manner.  Counselling helps to address the issues that are underneath the explosions.  It is supportive and caring, but it also helps people to make practical changes.

Bereavement and loss

Whether a bereavement is sudden or expected, it is highly distressing and traumatic.  People feel under great stress and strain when someone they love dies, and no matter what the circumstances, grief can include a wide range of emotions from sadness to anger.  Loss can also be the loss of a relationship after a marriage breaks down for example, or the loss of an animal, a home, a job etc.  It is not only bereavement that can leave people feeling empty and alone.  Counselling can really help people as they go through the stages of grief and ensure that they have the support that they need as they work through all the different emotions involved.

Depression

Living with depression can be a very painful and distressing place to be.  Depression can take over and leave people feeling both physically and emotionally drained.  People often feel very alone and isolated, and as though no one fully understands what they are going through.  Counselling helps to provide people with a space where they are heard and supported through a very dark and painful time.  It also helps people to gradually re build and gradually put their lives back together.

Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating)

Eating disorders can really take over people’s lives and identities, and often individuals can find themselves consumed with thoughts around food, body size, weight, shape and body image. Combine this with extremely low self worth and fragile self esteem – an individual can be left feeling totally alone and isolated.  Eating disorders range from binge eating to restricting, and they can often include abuse of laxatives, vomiting and exercise.  Eating disorders are not just about food and exercise though. They have a huge amount to do with relationships, experiences, history and self confidence.  Counselling can help people to practically change their relationship with food and at the same time help to challenge destructive patterns.  It can also help people to develop and improve all other areas of their lives.

Low self esteem and confidence

People often come for counselling because they have very low self worth.  This means that they lack confidence and that their self-esteem is very fragile. This can often be the result of their what they have experienced, either growing up, or in a relationship. It may be the result of bullying or abuse for example.  Counselling can really help people to start to believe in themselves again and to recognise what they have to offer, and the positive aspects of themselves.  It can assist people in developing and moving forward.

Relationships (Couple’s counselling, divorce counselling, issues around sex/intimacy, infidelity)

Relationships can often be extremely difficult and challenging.  Couple’s come for counselling because they are struggling to communicate, or because they are having issues with intimacy or their sex life is being affected.  Sometimes one partner has been unfaithful and people want to be able to work through that with a neutral person.  A counsellor can really help couple’s to start hearing one another again, to listen and support each other and to improve their way of relating.  On the other hand counselling can also be beneficial if individuals or couples are going through a divorce and they want someone to support them through this.

Stress (Money, health, relationships, work)

Stress plays a massive role in a lot of people’s lives.  Sometimes work, relationships, money and/or health concerns can cause people to feel under a lot of pressure. Signs of being stressed are feeling over whelmed, run down, irritability, inability to sleep and sometimes eating can be effected (either over or under eating).  Stress can often lead to physical health problems and emotional outbursts.  Stress is really hard to live with, and counselling can offer an outlet for this, and a place where you can discuss and work through the factors that are causing you to feel so stressed out.

Trauma (Experiencing/witnessing accidents, attacks, abuse, violence, wars, natural disasters etc)

As a result of either experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event an individual can be left questioning their beliefs and with their trust destroyed.  They can feel overwhelmed and the emotions may be confusing and hard to understand.  They may experience flashbacks, upsetting memories, nightmares and insomnia.  People can often feel emotionally detached from what has happened and find themselves re-experiencing the event over and over again.  The result of this can either be depression, low self-esteem, anger, stress, anxiety or even panic attacks.  Some people may also develop addictive patterns as a way of coping. Counselling can help people to cope with traumatic experiences and help them to understand what they have gone through. It can also assist them in dealing with the symptoms that they may have developed

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is most commonly used to describe symptoms arising from emotionally traumatic experience(s). However, not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD.  Those that do, will find themselves going over and over an event in their head, with very little space for anything else.  There may be an intense feeling of fear and a sense of being overwhelmed.  Others may avoid talking or thinking about the event as a form of self-preservation. This can lead to isolation, a sense of numbness and prolonged shock.  In turn relationships will be impacted on and an individual could experience being easily startled, feeling on edge and likely to jump at any noise or sound. Insomnia and mood swings are also likely. In the case of PTSD Cognitive Behavioural therapy techniques work best, as these can encourage an individual to replace unwanted thoughts and feelings with positive ones. It is recommended that therapy commences at least four weeks after the event has taken place.