Counselling...

Counselling provides an opportunity to explore troublesome thoughts and experiences of life. They may relate to a specific traumatic experience or be so well hidden they are not even recognised as being the cause. It is a time to take stock, re-visiting the past if necessary to reassess your own individual reality with the support and emotional strength of a skilled purposeful guide.

Life struggles are varied. They range through relationship breakdown, gender issues, childhood abuse, life changes, child behavioural difficulties and family struggles. Often more than one can make it difficult to know where to begin.
You may simply be wondering if you are living the 'right' life or surviving the one that you've fallen into? While no counsellor can claim to possess a magic wand it is possible with the right counsellor to guide people through challenging obstacles.

How I work...

My career in counselling started 23 years ago with numerous courses including a Diploma, these courses were in the main Integrative. Integrative counselling means I can offer clients a safe place where we can explore their individual holistic requirements most recently supported by me becoming MBACP (Accred) and being listed on the UKRCP listings.

For this I combine several accepted therapies, these being Person Centred, Existential, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. Person Centred makes sure I give the person an unconditional positive regard and am empathetic towards their way of being. Existential thought makes sure I stay with the client's story and not make judgements on how they are coping with life. Gestalt is also working with the whole person, their thoughts and their experiences. Transactional Analysis is concerned with the Parent, Adult, and Child interactions.

I use regular supervision where I will discuss the situation and not the name of the client, as this ensures confidentiality. I also work within the boundaries of a contract discussed beforehand with each person. Both the above ensure I work ethically and within the professional body of guidelines. I work together with my client to; hopefully take the person to a greater understanding.

Marriage and relationship counselling...

Relationships are constantly changing; they may include perfect moments but in a sustained relationship there are many highs, lows and lengthy plateaus. Even in strong partnerships there will be times when changes happen and you may hit rockier patches.

Relationship problems can be trigged by a multitude of issues. Sometimes major life events such as job loss or illness can cause significant personal and relationship stress which tests the partnership to breaking point.

Some relationships labour under the pressure of one partner suffering an addiction or substance abuse problem. Often sexual issues can create tension and due to the nature of the subject matter some people are reluctant to talk things through, leading to a breakdown in communication. Many relationships continue to function, albeit imperfectly, through infidelity or physical abuse.

The stress of managing money or children can slowly affect the health of a relationship; when you are too busy dealing with the pressures of everyday life it is sometimes easier to simply ignore the effects on your relationship.

If you think your relationship is in trouble then you are probably right. However, many issues and problems can be resolved and they don't have to mean separation or divorce. If you still have a connection, have been together for a long time or you have children, you may want to try and salvage a relationship rather than walk away.

Counselling Young People...

Young people can experience struggles at home, in school and with their peers. This can be extremely difficult when they are still learning to manage their feelings and emotions. Counselling is a supportive relationship built on trust. The role of the counsellor is to help a young person to understand the issues affecting them and to make informed, constructive choices.It can also help them to balance and measure their emotional responses. Many young people open up more easily to someone who is outside of their immediate social circle, and will speak frankly about their feelings and concerns.

Opinions, Method and Motives...

Opinions, Methods and Motives is a point of contact for all those interested in the hot topics of counselling and psychotherapy. Its aim is to bring alive ‘fresh thinking' for therapists and those with an interest in matters of the mind, and Philip Boddey welcomes your views and opinions. If the content does not represent your views, don't sit there and bottle it up – join the debate! This healthy dose of ‘Talk Therapy' can encompass a diversity of opinion – from whole body intelligence and single process therapeutic work through to Government recommendations and strategies which impact on counselling and psychotherapy. To this end, I offer Opinions, Methods and Motives as your place to speak out, so please visit my Counselling and Psychotherapy Blog and air your views.