Individual psychological support, therapy or counselling are all forms of 'individual psychotherapy', whereby a client enters into a paid therapeutic relationship with a trained mental health professional to focus solely on the clients' problems. Research shows that this relationship, which needs to feel safe, confidential, respectful and non-judgmental in order to be helpful, is the most important component for a positive result.  It is a relationship that takes time, commitment and consistency, from both the therapist and the client, to produce a good outcome, and it is quite different from talking to a friend. 

 

Sessions focus on the issues the client brings. The aim is to reach a shared understanding of those problems and to identify areas for change. Psychotherapy is about increasing self-understanding, self-awareness, breaking self-defeating cycles of behaviour, choosing how you want to live your life and taking responsibility for doing things differently, bearing in mind your circumstances, priorities and values. It is helpful to have some specific goals in mind, so that you can work towards these together.

 

People enter into therapy for a wide range of reasons. Most of my clients are seeking positive emotional change and improved relationships by examining repeat patterns of behaviour that are holding them back in some way. Individual psychotherapy is a healing process extending over a period of time, lasting from a few sessions to several years, depending on how complicated the problem and for how long a client has been suffering emotionally and psychologically. 

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