Denise Pease

If you are struggling during this unpredictable time with anxiety, low self esteem, depression, anger, bereavement, feeling sad or a couple experiencing relationship issues I can offer you a safe and confidential space to explore your problems and help you with new coping strategies.

I have been qualified for 15 years and am an experienced Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist offering individual, couple relationship counselling in Worthing and the surrounding areas. I can help you to process your thoughts and feelings in a non judgemental way.  Whatever you choose to bring we can work through it together.

I can offer:

....... a flexible approach and tailor the therapy to meet your needs:

• Short-term counselling (typically two to six sessions) to address specific issues such as family crisis, relationship difficulties, panic attacks, workplace difficulties e.g. bullying or stress.
• one off session to address a specific problem.
• Longer term with you to facilitate self exploration if you are experiencing depression, anxiety, a desire to search for more meaning in your life or if you have a sense of not coping with life.
• I am currently offering face to face counselling in Ferring, telephone and online therapy via Zoom.
• Rewind technique for trauma and phobias.

Counselling and Psychotherapy are talking therapies. They provide a safe, supportive and confidential space to talk about concerns. I have been asked "Is this important enough to bring to counselling"? My answer is always "yes", if it matters or affects you in any way, big or small, then it's important. There are many different issues that are explored within the counselling session and I have outlined a few below.

Depression

The term ‘depression’ can cover a wide range of symptoms, some much more serious than others, from an inability to concentrate, persistent insomnia, general fatigue, feeling sad and empty, lack of pleasure in activities, periods of crying (possibly for no apparent reason), feelings of worthlessness, to having suicidal thoughts. There are different types of depressive reaction ranging from mild mood fluctuations or 'the blues' to severe clinical depression.
For most people a depressive reaction is triggered by a set of life events which they are finding difficult to cope with. I hope together we can explore and understand the many factors both in the present and the past that have led you to feel the way you do.
If you are suffering from depression you are not alone, according to the Government's Mental Health Handbook about 12 per cent of the population experience depression severe enough to require treatment at some time or other in their life.

Anxiety

Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, nervous or afraid of things that may happen now or in the future. The causes of anxiety can range from environmental factors to genetics and are commonly triggered by stress. It is important to recognise that you have anxiety and to find a way of overcoming it. Anxiety can be identified both physically and psychologically and everyone is different in what and how they feel. I can help you to learn how to manage your anxiety and give you coping strategies to use when you are feeling out of control.  You see a perceived danger or threat and your body automatically prepares you to fight, freeze or flee (our fight and flight mechanism).  With newfound awareness you can control your response and manage your anxiety in a more measured way.

Bereavement

You may have suffered a bereavement and are trying to understand that the person you loved is no longer here. As time goes on you may experience depression and adjusting to the loss can be a long and painful process. Counselling can be beneficial as you may feel that expectations from society, friends and family to 'get on with it' can prevent you from letting your grief out. The counselling relationship can be the place where you are understood, your grief is accepted as a normal part of life and you can let some of your emotion out in a safe place.
The word bereavement means, "to be robbed of something valued'. Grieving is a process of adjusting to that loss and is universal. Although most often applied when the loss involves a death, it can be applied to many other situations such as loss of a job or relationship.

https://www.denisepeasecounselling.co.uk/worthing/blogs/post/15/The-Pain-Of-Grief.html

Addiction

Having worked for a drugs & alcohol agency I am able to help you to explore your relationship with these substances. Whether you are drinking too much alcohol, spending too much time on the internet, taking drugs, over eating, shopping, gambling, chocolate etc.. you can stop or control these repetitive behaviours. If you feel you are out of control and would like help we can explore the problem together and find an exit in the maze of addiction.

Self Esteem

Self esteem is an issue often explored in counselling. There can be many reasons for a person to feel low self esteem. Often, messages from our childhood get stuck in a loop and a person may repeat such beliefs, consciously or subconsciously, to oneself. Messages such as, 'you're stupid, be seen and not heard, can't do anything right, will fail, you're fat, you're ugly' etc, can be believed. Through awareness we have a choice whether to accept or reject them and consequently can create new healthy beliefs. Low self esteem can also occur if you have been bullied as a child and this can cause deep wounds. Bullying in adulthood can make you believe that you are in some way inadequate. Perhaps mistakes you have made in life have been so significant, that you can't forgive yourself and so suffer depression.

Anger

Anger is an emotion that we often believe to be unhealthy. We might receive the message that it's 'wrong' to be angry so we end up suppressing our anger. You might find yourself feeling resentful, your anger bubbles up and is expressed through sarcasm and blame. When we 'lose it' and feel uncontrollable anger our heart rate and adrenaline levels rise and at that point it can be difficult to think rationally. There is a fine line between acknowledging anger and venting it until it is out of control. Counselling allows you to explore the underlying issues which can help identify your triggers. Through this awareness you can learn to recognise and manage your anger (anger management) in the correct way. Anger can be a motivating force that helps us to make changes in a positive way.

I am offering a 6 week anger management course.

During the 6 weeks you will learn the following principles of anger management:

• To understand your anger and become more aware
• What triggers your anger
• How the body and brain acts when you are angry
• Communication skills
• Problem Solving
• Cost-benefit analysis of getting angry
• Strategies for Managing your anger
• Identifying your cycle of anger and making changes

Currently I am offering 1-2-1 Anger Management sessions face to face in Ferring or online via Zoom.

Please go to denisepeasecounselling.co.uk to read a brief case study on a client who has benefited from an anger management course.

Couples Counselling

You may feel unhappy or frustrated with certain aspects of your relationship but can’t seem to alter things no matter how hard you try to communicate.

Relationship counselling can help – whatever your sexual orientation, background, or marital status- whether you come alone or with a partner. Some people need to find a way through specific issues, others may want to improve an ongoing relationship.

Why do couples come for counselling?

Often a couple will seek counselling because of a build-up of painful experiences between them that has led to it becoming almost impossible for them to communicate effectively.  Discussions about what is difficult between them seems to either degenerate into angry exchanges of blame and judgement or end up in an icy silence.  Either way, both people are left feeling hurt, distressed and isolated from each other.

What can couples hope to gain from counselling?

With love comes heartache and this is not as negative as it first seems.  If you don’t care for someone deeply disagreements and problems would only be an annoyance.  The more someone matters to you the more you will mind when things go wrong.  Happiness in a relationship does not depend on harmony, as meeting problems together and in the right way can deepen love.

A Couple that learns to tackle differences positively can give strength and flexibility to the relationship.  You might be hurting after an emotional or physical betrayal and see your relationship as being over. Perhaps you've been together a while and the relationship has become stale.  I can help you both to explore your needs and look at ways of reconnecting with your partner.

The key to unlocking almost any relationship problem is good communication.  A couple in counselling will learn to listen, talk and even argue with their partner in a healthy way.  It means looking at your basic ways of behaving and sometimes breaking lifetime habits of everyday living.

Common habits that get in the way of helpful communication are:

• Not saying what you really mean.
• Making something else the issue.
• Not talking.
• Nagging.
• Changing the subject.
• Being a know-all.
• Disguised criticism.
• The way you say it.

When is the right time for counselling?

It’s never too early. Often by the time of your first appointment the cracks in the relationship have started to show.  Bitterness and resentment may have built up and the fear of being hurt or rejected blocks out any chance of change.  There may have been a betrayal of trust, you have just found out that your partner has had an affair.  It might feel like the end and separation or divorce seems like the only option. 
As a counsellor the words I most hear from couples are "We've tried everything - counselling is our last resort." One thing's for sure: counsellors rarely hear the complaint "It's too early for our relationship!"

How can counselling help?

Destructive patterns of relating can be recognised and addressed.

Conflict and communication can be improved.

New relationship skills can be learned.

The impact of change and loss can be examined.

Relationships can be more successful.

In relationshps we tend to repeat the same old patterns of the past . We often have a desire that things could be different and if that's the case then perhaps it's time to try a new approach.  I find many clients go through life doing the same old thing but hope for a different outcome.  Most of this is unconscious and together we can unpick and understand your stuck patterns.  My belief is that through awareness we have a choice and it doesn't have to be more of the same old thing.

If you are experiencing problems in your relationship and would like the opportunity to untangle the problems and learn new skills along the way please contact me for an assessment.  This can take up to 60 minutes and will allow you to decide if counselling is right for you at this time.

It is my understanding that treatment is not just fixing what is broken but also nurturing what is best.

https://www.denisepeasecounselling.co.uk/worthing/blogs/post/17/You-can-t-change-your-partner.html

https://www.denisepeasecounselling.co.uk/worthing/blogs/post/16/Limerence-the----Phoneymoon----Stage.html

 I have completed an extra 80 hours of training to Zoom. I am finding online counselling to be highly effective and feel so lucky that I am able to support clients going through a difficult time by offering online sessions via zoom.

Also, for many, online counselling is more convenient than face to face counselling because there is no travel, no parking and just counselling in the comfort of your own home.

If online or telephone counselling is an option for you please get in touch via my contact page.

I am able to offer evening and day time appointments either face to face or by telephone or Zoom.

For more detailed information please visit denisepeasecounselling.co.uk

• Couples relationship counselling
• Mid life crisis
• Low self esteem
• Loss of confidence
• Loss of identity
• Spirituality
• Understanding anxiety and learning coping mechanisms
• Addictive Behaviours e.g Gambling, Shopping, Eating, Alcohol, Drugs
• Relationship issues
• Difficulties with speech e.g. stammering
• Anger management
• Depression
• Rewind technique for phobias and trauma

£60 per session for individuals

£60 Assessment for individuals

£60 per session for anger management

£75 Assessment for couples

£75 per session for couples

Company Referral Fee is Negotiable

Reduced rate of £40  for student/trainee counsellors

(A reduced rate of £40  is offered if parents are in receipt of benefits, have proof of low income or are single parents on a low income)

If you have private health insurance you may be covered for counselling. Please check with your insurance company.

Short/Long term therapy

An initial one hour appointment will be offered to allow us to explore the best approach for your difficulties. Depending on the outcome of the assessment I may offer either 6 -12 weeks or long term therapy, whichever is most appropriate for your needs. You will then be able to decide if counselling is the right step for you and whether we can work together. Appointments are offered on a weekly basis at a regular time for 50 minutes. I aim to offer you an appointment within 5 days or less.

Currently I am able to offer face to face counselling daytime and evening appointments from a location in Ferring.  Also, I am offering Counselling via zoom for clients who wish to work this way.    Please contact me for further information.