Training as a counsellor will absorb a great deal of your emotional capacity. Many of your thoughts, feelings and assumptions about the world will be challenged if you engage well on a good course and whilst peer support groups can be rich and empowering personal counselling offers an entirely neutral space. You don’t have to prove anything here or present yourself in a particular manner.
The obligation to have personal counselling will also drain your finances. 100 hours will cost around £5,000. Some student counsellors will be able to afford that and some won’t. For those that can’t I’m happy to offer a reduced fee of £30 a session, saving you £2,000 over 100 sessions. I’m also happy to see students who can afford the normal fee.
There are a number of national and local funders who can help you. Take a look at
Funding Education
Campden charities
Westway funding
National Union of Students
Friday 24 September 2010
Thursday 20 May 2010
WHAT CAN COUNSELLING MEAN FOR YOU?
The brief introduction to their work that all counsellors write for their web profile will discuss time, empathy and relationship because we know – and this is what the research shows - that this is what works. Very few people consider coming into counselling unless they’re unhappy or confused and feel that some reassurance and advice will help discover a way forward. Friends and family can offer exactly that: a good talk, a glass of wine, helping you discover which of your choices is most acceptable to you and them. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that – you chose your friends because they reflect your interests and way of life and you wouldn’t share your problems with a person who you didn’t trust to support you.
Counselling is much more than this. One of the most important things I think is worth making clients aware of is that
We live in a world where there seems to be an instant answer for everything. Feel unhappy? Have a haircut, go out with friends, have a massage. Feel confused about what you want to do with your life? Take an evening class, speak with friends who’re living the life you want, do voluntary work. For this straightforward approach you may find coaching very useful.
You’ll see from this entry that coaching is directive, instructive and about training you. This can be very useful indeed. But it’s not counselling.
A second aspect of counselling that you should be aware of is that
Coming to counselling means that you are ready to explore, in depth, parts of your life that you feel unhappy about. You will spend some time exploring your pain and that is upsetting. Counselling does not entail, as some critics suggest, wallowing endlessly in misery but it is a journey into and through upset and sometimes trauma. This is where friends and family become less useful because they will feel distressed themselves as they become involved in your distress. Understandably, they will want to limit your distress. Counsellors will let you be the judge of your own limits. It’s up to you how much you want to explore.
The third important aspect of counselling, and perhaps the single most important is
You can talk about whatever you want for as many sessions as you like. The counsellor will not tell you when you’ve said enough. It is up to you to decide what you want to talk about, and for how long. You are in control of the session.
If you want to spend a long time exploring your past, difficulties with the present, where you want to go on holiday or the weather then that’s what the session will be about. The counsellor will not tell you what to talk about, has no investment in changing the way in which you think about the past, present or future; instead, the process of being listened and responded to very carefully will help you discern for yourself what is important for you.
You are the expert in your own life, and whilst this sounds comforting many of us actually want an expert to tell us how to live better. No counsellor worth their qualification will offer that. Your family and friends may believe that if you got a higher paying job or took a sabbatical, give up your lover or get married then your life will improve. But if you don’t believe it then it won’t work for you.
Reclaiming that personal authority for yourself is a surprisingly complex process. You have to overcome decades of being told how to think, behave, and live up to other people’s expectations, whether that’s family, the media, or your peer group. Being told how to think and live sounds oppressive but most of us are very comfortable with it, until we find that someone else’s idea of a good life doesn’t fit us. The counselling relationship - where the counsellor truly trusts you to find your own way through your own life - is unlike any other you will have experienced and takes time to get used to. Once you begin to deeply trust your own wisdom you have more solid ground from which to make decisions to help you live in a way that truly suits you. Sounds straightforward – and it is – but that sincere trust in oneself takes time to build, and can only be facilitated by unconditional trust from your counsellor rather than well meaning advice.
Counselling is much more than this. One of the most important things I think is worth making clients aware of is that
Counsellors and psychotherapists do not give you answers.
We live in a world where there seems to be an instant answer for everything. Feel unhappy? Have a haircut, go out with friends, have a massage. Feel confused about what you want to do with your life? Take an evening class, speak with friends who’re living the life you want, do voluntary work. For this straightforward approach you may find coaching very useful.
You’ll see from this entry that coaching is directive, instructive and about training you. This can be very useful indeed. But it’s not counselling.
A second aspect of counselling that you should be aware of is that
You may feel worse before you feel better.
Coming to counselling means that you are ready to explore, in depth, parts of your life that you feel unhappy about. You will spend some time exploring your pain and that is upsetting. Counselling does not entail, as some critics suggest, wallowing endlessly in misery but it is a journey into and through upset and sometimes trauma. This is where friends and family become less useful because they will feel distressed themselves as they become involved in your distress. Understandably, they will want to limit your distress. Counsellors will let you be the judge of your own limits. It’s up to you how much you want to explore.
The third important aspect of counselling, and perhaps the single most important is
This process is about taking back control of your own life, in your own way.
You can talk about whatever you want for as many sessions as you like. The counsellor will not tell you when you’ve said enough. It is up to you to decide what you want to talk about, and for how long. You are in control of the session.
If you want to spend a long time exploring your past, difficulties with the present, where you want to go on holiday or the weather then that’s what the session will be about. The counsellor will not tell you what to talk about, has no investment in changing the way in which you think about the past, present or future; instead, the process of being listened and responded to very carefully will help you discern for yourself what is important for you.
You are the expert in your own life, and whilst this sounds comforting many of us actually want an expert to tell us how to live better. No counsellor worth their qualification will offer that. Your family and friends may believe that if you got a higher paying job or took a sabbatical, give up your lover or get married then your life will improve. But if you don’t believe it then it won’t work for you.
Reclaiming that personal authority for yourself is a surprisingly complex process. You have to overcome decades of being told how to think, behave, and live up to other people’s expectations, whether that’s family, the media, or your peer group. Being told how to think and live sounds oppressive but most of us are very comfortable with it, until we find that someone else’s idea of a good life doesn’t fit us. The counselling relationship - where the counsellor truly trusts you to find your own way through your own life - is unlike any other you will have experienced and takes time to get used to. Once you begin to deeply trust your own wisdom you have more solid ground from which to make decisions to help you live in a way that truly suits you. Sounds straightforward – and it is – but that sincere trust in oneself takes time to build, and can only be facilitated by unconditional trust from your counsellor rather than well meaning advice.
WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Psychotherapy is a way of addressing distress without the use of medication. This is long term work focusing on all that you are rather than isolated aspects of your personality or specific issues.
Much of our unhappiness is caused by our relationships with family, friends and people at work, the society around us and with ourselves. We have our own unique histories, coping strategies and beliefs all of which inform the way we are now. Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to become aware of these patterns of relating, most of which are unconscious, and through understanding comes the opportunity for change.
Stress is a signal that something is out of balance and exploring stress - whether it manifests as anxiety, depression, confusion, relationship problems or other tensions - through psychotherapy can help with sustainable, holistic change.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY?
In effect, nothing. It used to be that spending 2 years or more in therapy during training resulted in being called a psychotherapist and any less a counsellor. Now the terms have become synonymous. However, anyone can call themselves a therapist or counsellor and in a world of pop psychology it’s important that you make sure you know what you’re getting.
Whoever you chose to see ask if they have a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling. Ask if they’re a member of a professional membership group. Ask if they have a supervisor. Ask if they’ve been in psychotherapy themselves and so know what you might experience. And no matter how well qualified a therapist is, it’s important that you feel safe and respected.
Much of our unhappiness is caused by our relationships with family, friends and people at work, the society around us and with ourselves. We have our own unique histories, coping strategies and beliefs all of which inform the way we are now. Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to become aware of these patterns of relating, most of which are unconscious, and through understanding comes the opportunity for change.
Stress is a signal that something is out of balance and exploring stress - whether it manifests as anxiety, depression, confusion, relationship problems or other tensions - through psychotherapy can help with sustainable, holistic change.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY?
In effect, nothing. It used to be that spending 2 years or more in therapy during training resulted in being called a psychotherapist and any less a counsellor. Now the terms have become synonymous. However, anyone can call themselves a therapist or counsellor and in a world of pop psychology it’s important that you make sure you know what you’re getting.
Whoever you chose to see ask if they have a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling. Ask if they’re a member of a professional membership group. Ask if they have a supervisor. Ask if they’ve been in psychotherapy themselves and so know what you might experience. And no matter how well qualified a therapist is, it’s important that you feel safe and respected.
CONTRACT
It's important to have a therapy contract so that both client and counsellor know what the working boundaries are. This is a copy of the contract that clients and I work within.
"The points below have been discussed between myself and Clare.
I understand them and agree to work with Clare within the terms of this contract.
Code of Ethics and Practice
Clare is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and endeavours to work by its Code of Ethics, a copy of which is available on request or at www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework.
Confidentiality
Details of sessions are confidential. Clare reviews her work with her supervisor but my name and other identifying details will not be used in these sessions. This confidentiality does not cover the following:
i serious injury or harm will be caused to myself or another individual.
ii child abuse has been disclosed.
iii a miscarriage of justice will occur.
iv Clare is summonsed by a Court of Law.
Length of Sessions
Psychotherapy is offered for 50 minutes on a weekly basis.
Abusive or Threatening Behaviour
Abusive or threatening behaviour by either myself or Clare is not acceptable. Clare reserves the right to withdraw services if I become abusive or threatening.
Financial Agreement
The cost of sessions are between £50 and £70 and I understand that I will pay for missed sessions.
Cancellation of Sessions
Both Clare and I are expected to give as much notice as possible - 24 hours if at all possible - if we are unable to attend a session.
Client Signature.............................................Date...........................
Clare Slaney ..................................................Date.................................
"The points below have been discussed between myself and Clare.
I understand them and agree to work with Clare within the terms of this contract.
Code of Ethics and Practice
Clare is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and endeavours to work by its Code of Ethics, a copy of which is available on request or at www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework.
Confidentiality
Details of sessions are confidential. Clare reviews her work with her supervisor but my name and other identifying details will not be used in these sessions. This confidentiality does not cover the following:
i serious injury or harm will be caused to myself or another individual.
ii child abuse has been disclosed.
iii a miscarriage of justice will occur.
iv Clare is summonsed by a Court of Law.
Length of Sessions
Psychotherapy is offered for 50 minutes on a weekly basis.
Abusive or Threatening Behaviour
Abusive or threatening behaviour by either myself or Clare is not acceptable. Clare reserves the right to withdraw services if I become abusive or threatening.
Financial Agreement
The cost of sessions are between £50 and £70 and I understand that I will pay for missed sessions.
Cancellation of Sessions
Both Clare and I are expected to give as much notice as possible - 24 hours if at all possible - if we are unable to attend a session.
Client Signature.............................................Date...........................
Clare Slaney ..................................................Date.................................
Why do I pay for missed sessions?
For three reasons
1. Hiring a room costs money that all therapists have to pay whether the client attends a session or not. When an appointment is made for you another client can’t be seen at that time – that hour is yours whether you’re there or not.
2. Therapy is a commitment and investment. You’re valuing yourself by taking it seriously.
3. Paying and not paying for time set aside for you is an indication of how much respect you pay yourself and afford to others.
GETTING TO ME
I work in a fully accessible, central London venue.
The nearest tube is Ladbroke Grove.
Buses 7 23 52 70 228 and 452 all pass within 3 minutes walk of my practice.
Car parking is metered before 7pm.
The nearest tube is Ladbroke Grove.
Buses 7 23 52 70 228 and 452 all pass within 3 minutes walk of my practice.
Car parking is metered before 7pm.
PHILOSOPHY
The Person Centred approach believes that you are capable of discovering your own solutions to your own problems. You are the expert in your own life. There are no diagnoses or labels and conversely there is no prescription. Instead, via the relationship between client and counsellor, the client discovers personal resources, develops their own power, and becomes more able to grow. I’m a qualified Person Centred Counsellor and have the PG Dip and MA in Psychotherapy.
Ecopsychology understands that individual, community and global wellbeing are interconnected. This is a new way of expressing very ancient understandings about our place in the world and the worlds place in us. I’m registered with the International Community for Ecopsychology
http://counsellingresource.com/types/person-centred/
http://www.ecopsychology.org/
Ecopsychology understands that individual, community and global wellbeing are interconnected. This is a new way of expressing very ancient understandings about our place in the world and the worlds place in us. I’m registered with the International Community for Ecopsychology
http://counsellingresource.com/types/person-centred/
http://www.ecopsychology.org/
SUPERVISION
It seems that whatever approach or method is used, in the end it is the quality of the relationship between supervisor and counsellor that determines whether supervision is effective or not . . . There needs to be a degree of warmth, trust, genuineness and respect between them in order to create a safe enough environment for supervision to take place.(Hunt 1998)
All my supervisors – and supervisees - have taught me one essential thing: that a commitment to authenticity is vital. Supervision can be rich and enjoyable at the same time as being difficult; it’s in those moments of discomfort that we discover most about the relationship between the client and ourselves. Feeling secure enough to explore the difficult stuff requires confidence and respect in and from both of us.
My background is in Person Centred Practice, and I offer reduced fees for students. Groups are limited to 3 supervisees.
One to one supervision - £40 / £25 for students for 1 hour.
Group supervision - £25 per person for 1 hour.
For more details call 07717 845 115
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