Ruth Guile

Why come to Counselling? 

We grow and change with our environment and outside circumstances. We flourish in favourable conditions and can be slowed down by difficulties and stresses, along the way. We adapt to what we face and sometimes through painful and complicated times we lose a sense of confidence in ourselves and who we are. Then it may be helpful to have someone with us so that we can identify for ourselves how to grow and move forward. It is an opportunity to look at how we feel, what is important to us, to accept and like ourselves and feel more in touch with who we really are and who we want to be. 

I am an experienced, qualified Integrative Counsellor. I have chosen to train in areas that I feel are really important and where I can make a difference. I have worked with anxiety, depression, suicide, death, spirituality, loss, addiction and dependencies, ageing, homelessness and people with complex diagnoses. I have worked long term over years and shorter term, for example 10-12 weeks. I believe that outside circumstances like periods of transition, breakdowns in relationships, losses and changes in our environment can add to uncomfortable feelings that we are carrying with us. This can provoke painful feelings like anxiety in different forms, depression, fear, lack of confidence and feeling overwhelmed.  These are some of the key areas that people often want to look at but also find hard to understand and identify alone.

My aim is to listen carefully and support you in a safe and comfortable space. I can help people look at painful and frightening feelings and bring them into the open, so these feelings can be seen, understood, processed and accepted.  

How does Counselling begin? 

We would have a free initial meeting so that we can see how we feel about working together. In this session, you can ask me anything you would like to know about the counselling I offer. I will ask you about yourself, your relationships and what brings you to counselling at this time. 

How do we work together? 

If you choose to continue with further regular sessions, I will offer a space to look at whatever it is you want to bring on that day. You do not have to plan anything to discuss as the process of counselling means that thoughts and feelings will come up naturally.  However, it can also be done by planning a starting point and deciding on a topic for a session beforehand. We will work together to build a relationship and a way of talking about feelings so that you feel you can be heard and understood. We can work in your way on any area of your life that feels important to you at this time. This may be related to family, work, finances, life stages and friends. It could cover issues such as bereavement and loss, anxiety, depression, abuse, low self-image, anger, despair, trauma, difficulties from the past, periods of transition and change, or unhelpful patterns of behaviour. 

How does Counselling help? 

Clients say:  
"You made it okay not to feel okay" 
"I feel stronger in myself and I know who I am" 

My training is in Integrative Counselling and I can offer therapeutic approaches that suit your needs at this time. 
I believe that the relationship between the client and the counsellor is the source of change. Counselling is a safe, kind and compassionate way of being able to look at the pain and suffering which is bound up with our daily lives. 
There are areas in which I can help as a counsellor: 

• Identifying how you feel at this time and what you would like to look at in your life.
• Looking at how you go forward in a way that fits for you.
• Supporting you to be able to look at painful feelings that are hard to focus on and understand. 

I offer open-ended therapy or shorter-term work. How long we work together will be your choice depending on what you want from counselling at this time. 

Where does counselling take place? 

Our sessions take place in a quiet, ground floor space with easy access overlooking a garden. There is ample free parking immediately outside. It is a 15-minute walk to the station and the 700 bus stops close by. 
I am a Registered Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy). 

I am fully insured and DBS checked
I am registered with the ICO for Data Protection
I have individual membership of BACP.
I abide by the BACP  Codes of Ethics

Each session is for one hour . I offer a free initial  session of one hour in person, online or by phone.This gives us both the opportunity to try working together.

My fees

Individual appointments – £45 -£60

Couples Counselling - £45 -£60 

Appointments are available during the day and evening , Monday to Friday

I offer weekly sessions at the same time and the same day each week. I also offer flexible sessions for shift work etc. I plan to give my clients four weeks notice of changes to our sessions and if I cannot make a session I will try to offer an alternative time suitable to you. I ask for a days notice of changes to your appointments.

Payment by cash or bank transfer.

My Continuing Professional Development is in the areas of

Counselling around Mental Health and Physical Well Being

• Working with Body Story Lines

• Trauma and the Body

• Trauma and Substance Use 
• Pesso Boyden Training (ongoing)

Counselling around Attachment Styles from our Early Childhood

• Attachment in Substance Counselling
• Attachment as a Therapeutic Modality

Working Creatively in the Counselling Room

• Using the Sand Tray in Counselling
• Integration of the Two Parts of the Self
• Painting from the Heart
• Exploring the Inner Image
• Working with Dreams