Gemma Slobom. Bsc (Psych), DPS (Counselling), MBACP.

Taking the first steps towards counselling can often feel like a daunting prospect. At this stage you may be asking yourself; What is therapy? Can it help me? Do I really need it - I should be able to manage this on my own, shouldn't I?

Therapy, in simple terms, provides someone with a space to talk about their thoughts and feelings with someone who is truly prepared to step in to their world and to listen, free of judgement. When in the environment created by therapy, people often find themselves more able to talk freely and to voice things that they are perhaps, unable to with their family and friends, maybe even to say the things that they have never had the opportunity to before.

People enter therapy for a number of different reasons. Some may be experiencing a bereavement or a relationship breakdown. Some may be dissatisfied with their lives or be dealing with a loss of direction. Some may be reliving a traumatic event from the past and some may just have an overriding sense that all is not OK. All of these are valid reasons to consider entering into therapy, there is no eligibility threshold.

What sort of therapy do you offer?

As an Intergrative therapist I have studied a number of approaches to counselling, and I use a blend of these which varies depending on who you are, and what you need. How this looks in real terms varies from client to client, no two relationships will be the same, given that we are all individuals. I also tend to be quite relational in the way that I work, which means that I pay close attention to the relationship that develops between us, as therapist and client.

The theoretical approaches from which I work are as follows;

• Person Centred Approach - A non directive form of therapy, which assumes that the client is the expert on their own process. Working from the core conditions of Congruence, Empathy and Unconditional Positive Regard.
• Psychodynamic Theory - Hailing from Psychoanalytic Theory, the process of bringing the unconscious process in to the conscious mind and awareness.
• Gestalt Therapy - Working in the here and now of the present moment to assist clients in developing a non- judgemental self awareness.
• Transactional Analysis - A therapy underpinned by the assumption that we exist in and act from one of three ego states (Parent, Adult or Child) and interact from these positions.

What happens next?

I welcome you to contact via email or phone/ text. Following a discussion around your needs we may then look at booking an assessment session. This allows us to meet and to discuss in a little more detail what you hope to gain from counselling. It also helps to clarify whether you feel like I'm the right therapist for you - as this is intrinsic in building a trusting relationship.

In the event that you are not sure what you're looking for, you are welcome to contact via the telephone for an informal chat.

Whether you call, or we meet in person there is no obligation to enter into therapy, and your contact will be treated with confidence.

You are welcome to call between the hours of 9 am - 8 pm on weekdays. I may not always be able to answer as I may be with other clients, but do leave an answerphone message and I will return your call as soon as I'm able.

Emails are welcome at any time and I look forward to hearing from you

Gemma