How counselling can help

People come to counselling for many different reasons. Sometimes there is something specific that has happened. At other times, it may be harder to put into words — perhaps you just know that things don't feel quite right.

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You might be feeling anxious, low, overwhelmed or stuck. You may be struggling in a relationship, finding it difficult to switch off, questioning yourself more than usual, or noticing the same situations and feelings repeating.

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You don't need to have a diagnosis or know exactly what you want to talk about before coming to counselling. We can begin with whatever is troubling you and think about it together.

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Things you may want help with

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Anxiety and overthinking

 

Anxiety can show itself in many ways — constant worrying, overthinking, panic, difficulty relaxing or a feeling that something bad might happen.

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Counselling can give you space to think about what may be behind those feelings, rather than simply trying to push them away.

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Low mood and self-esteem

 

You may find yourself feeling low, lacking confidence or being particularly hard on yourself.

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Perhaps you often feel that you're not good enough, worry about disappointing others, or find it difficult to recognise your own needs.

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Counselling can offer a space to explore these feelings and begin to understand where they may have come from.

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Relationships and repeating patterns

 

Relationships can sometimes leave us feeling confused, hurt, frustrated or alone.

You might notice that similar difficulties seem to happen with different people, find it hard to set boundaries, worry about rejection, avoid conflict, or feel responsible for keeping everybody else happy.

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Counselling can help you become more aware of these patterns and think about how past and present relationships may be connected.

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Stress and feeling overwhelmed

 

Work, family responsibilities, relationships and everyday pressures can sometimes become too much.

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You may find yourself constantly busy but unable to relax, becoming irritable or exhausted, or feeling that there simply isn't enough of you to go around.

Having a regular space where you don't have to look after anyone else's needs can give you time to stop, think and understand what is happening for you.

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Grief, loss and change

 

Loss isn't limited to bereavement. The ending of a relationship, changes within a family, retirement, redundancy, illness or other significant changes can all bring difficult and sometimes unexpected feelings.

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Counselling offers somewhere you can talk about those feelings without needing to protect other people or feel that you should have 'moved on'.

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Feeling stuck or not quite yourself

 

Sometimes there isn't one obvious problem.

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You may simply feel dissatisfied, disconnected or unsure about what you want. Perhaps life looks fine from the outside, yet something doesn't feel right.

This can be just as valid a reason to come to counselling.

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Together, we can be curious about what you are experiencing and begin to make sense of it.

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Understanding yourself, not being told what to do

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My approach is psychodynamic, which means I am interested not only in what is happening in your life now, but also in the experiences and relationships that may have shaped how you see yourself and relate to others.

 

We may notice patterns that have become familiar over time, think about feelings that have been difficult to express, or explore why certain situations affect you particularly strongly.

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This doesn't mean that every difficulty has to be traced back to childhood. It means giving ourselves space to think about both the past and present and how they may be connected.

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Counselling isn't about me telling you what you should do. It is about us thinking together so that, over time, you can develop a deeper understanding of yourself and have more choice in how you respond.

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You don't have to decide whether your problem is 'big enough'

 

People sometimes hesitate before contacting a counsellor because they wonder whether what they're experiencing is serious enough.

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There is no threshold you have to meet.

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If something is affecting how you feel, your relationships, your confidence or your everyday life, it is something we can talk about.

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Taking the first step

 

I offer counselling and therapy for adults face to face in Witham and Chelmsford, as well as online across the UK.

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If you're wondering whether counselling might be helpful, you are welcome to start with a free 15-minute introductory chat. It's an informal opportunity to tell me a little about what's bringing you to counselling, ask any questions and get a sense of whether you would feel comfortable talking with me.

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