Pip Carr

You've taken the first step in searching for support with your difficulties - I recognise how hard this can be, so please read on and see how I can help you to take the next steps forward.

I have worked as a counsellor for several years and enjoy helping people to come to terms with their life challenges. I am a very warm and friendly person, who shows great empathy and understanding towards others.  I recognise how difficult it can be to find the courage to face up to your problems and not bury them.  It is my job to support you whilst together we shine a light on those difficulties, but more importantly, work out how to put them behind you and move on.

What issues can I help with?

I can provide support with a wide range of issues including:

• Relationship and family issues:- maybe you have gone through a difficult breakup or have a difficult relationship with a family member or friend.
• Self confidence/self esteem:- do you struggle to really like yourself or have confidence in your abilities?
• Anxiety:- anxiety shows itself in different ways including social anxiety, general anxiety, phobias, health anxiety, panic attacks.
• Depression:- depression can be clinical or situational e.g. caused by life events such as bereavement, divorce etc.
• Stress and worry:- maybe you are stressed due to pressures with work/exams etc. or are you a worrier?
• Job/career/finances:- perhaps you are dissatisfied with job or career, or have money worries?
• Losing weight / health issues:- weight gains can often be related to past experiences or issues with self esteem.
• Redundancy / retirement:- both can turn your life upside down and cause you to need to re-think your whole existence.
• Personal development / life enrichment:- maybe you feel there is something missing in your life, but can't work out what it is?
• Divorce/separation:- these can leave us with unresolved feelings and hurt.
• Bereavement / loss:- perhaps you have been bereaved and are struggling to come to terms with the loss?
• Hoarding and de-cluttering:- this can be a sign of unresolved emotional issues.

How will I support you?

Counselling provides a safe and supportive space, using listening, empathy and understanding to help you recognise how you feel, your emotional response to certain situations and your behaviours. It focuses on past experiences and how they may have brought you to your present situation. Counselling also helps you to come to terms with your past so that you are ready to move forward. We'll focus on your strengths and resources and how your life will be better once changes are made. This helps you to clarify what you want to change, identifies goals and understanding of barriers to moving forward. 

From experience I believe that it is more beneficial to fit the therapy to the client and not the other way around! Therefore I am flexible in my approach and use different techniques and methods to get the best outcome for you. If the client wishes, this might involve working creatively with art materials, mood and values cards, visualisations etc., however, first and foremost my job is to listen.

I can help you to overcome your difficulties and find the courage to move forward.

What will happen in your sessions?

The power of counselling lies in someone being heard and being able to talk about their problems to someone who is not connected to them. Some people find it easy to talk about their issues, others find it more difficult, in which case it is my job to help by asking questions; the who, what, why, where and when. I will listen carefully to what you tell me and help to shine a spotlight on the issue, helping you to see it from different angles and maybe gaining some understanding. We will go where you want to lead, but I will be there to help you feel safe and grounded and I will 'hold' your emotions.

How many sessions will I need?

This is very difficult to predict as some situations and issues are more complex and deep seated than others. Some clients already know deep down what they want from a situation and merely need someone to listen to them and help them sort out in their minds how to approach their issues. In this case they may need only 4 or 5 sessions to feel they have dealt with their problem. Other more complex issues may take longer to untangle, but often clients will move from weekly sessions, to fortnightly, then monthly as they begin to feel more at ease with what they are going through.

Whatever the situation however, we will do regular reviews to ensure we are on the right track and how we are going to move forward.

 Where will our sessions take place?

I offer face to face, telephone and also online sessions. Face to face sessions take place at my home therapy room which is just a few minutes drive outside Settle, or at a venue in the centre of Skipton.

If you have any questions about my counselling sessions that are not answered here, please don't hesitate to either call, text or email me.  07722072939 / piploucarr@gmail.com

• Hoarding and de-cluttering where I can work with you on both the emotional and practical aspects of hoarding behaviour and de-cluttering your environment.

£45.00 for 50 minute session.

Fees are payable either before or at the session and can be paid by cash, cheque, or BACS transfer.

As I recognise the difficulties of the expense involved in training to be a counsellor, I offer a reduced rate for trainee counsellors of £30 per hour.

I also offer a reduced rate of £30 for those who are on a low income.

If you would like to discuss my fees further, please do get in touch.

As a person centred trained counsellor, my role is to respond to you and your needs, tailoring counselling sessions to fit.  

If they wish to do so, I love working creatively with people as I recognise that it is often hard to express what you are feeling in words.  This may take the form of using art materials/drawing/collage, using specially designed picture cards, looking at photographs, mood boards etc.

If you would like to know more about the methods I use, please get in touch -      07722072939 / piploucarr@gmail.com