Simon Littlejohn

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Stuck? Unsure whether to confide even in the people closest to you? This is where counselling can help. By talking to a trained professional in a confidential environment, it can lead to meaningful and lasting change.

About Me
I am an experienced Integrative Counsellor, which means I use a variety of counselling approaches that best suit our work together. In a supportive, non-judgemental space we will be able to explore what is going on for you and identify areas of life you would like to change. This involves looking at what is happening in the present moment, as well as exploring your options for the future and patterns of behaviour/relationships from your past.

Your Power To Change
Our thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical environment all shape our experience. These can develop into a complex variety of positive, neutral and negative reactions to these experiences. For example, think about the last time you were feeling stressed and what you did, or did not do, to cope with that situation. Our feelings are there to guide us. Whether positive or negative, strong or weak, they are serving a purpose. When feelings don't get expressed, they can get stuck or become unbearably intense or lead to numbness. By taking the time to reflect on how you really feel and think about your issues, and yourself, together we can open up and explore your world of potential and choice.

Getting In Touch
Please call, text or email me if you would like to book an initial session. If you prefer, we can have a short conversation over the phone about what is going on for you prior to organising a first session. We can then make arrangements to meet at a convenient day and time. I can send you directions as well as any other relevant information you would like to find out.

Our First Session
This will be our opportunity to meet face to face and for you to talk about what issues have brought you to counselling. I will also be able to explain more about how we might work together and what it is that you wish to achieve or change. We will go at your pace and there is no rush. There is a contract for us both to sign which I will talk through and this sets out what you can expect of my service to you. If you do not wish to continue, I can provide you with further information, contacts and resources. Going to counselling, even if not the first time, can be a daunting experience. However, through the relationship we build together, counselling can have many different benefits and rewards, such as increased self-esteem, greater self-awareness, improved relationships and reduced stress and anxiety.

Subsequent Sessions
For consistency, we will meet once a week at the same time and day and this will be for 50 minutes. As you may expect, you will be doing most of the talking, although there are times when silence is needed too. I will listen carefully to you, reflect, summarise and facilitate the counselling process. We will explore what has been going on for you recently, as well as talking about your childhood and past, and looking towards the future to see what steps might work going forward. On suitable occasions, we may engage in creative tasks, imaginative exercises and role plays.

How many sessions will I need?
Research reports that the average number of sessions is between 12 and 20, however there is no set time frame. We will review our work every six weeks or so to see what is working well and what you think about us working together. You are able to finish at any point, although it is important that we have a final session to summarise what has been achieved so far and to provide you with further contacts or resources.

I hold an Enhanced DBS Check (formerly CRB) as well as Professional Liability Insurance.

For Individuals:
Our first session will be charged at £50 for up to one hour. This means that you can decide if I am the right counsellor for you.

If you decide to continue, sessions will be charged at the same rate, with sessions lasting for 50 minutes. I am able to offer short and long term counselling work. The number of sessions will be discussed in our first meeting although there is no set time frame for us working together.

Reduced fees are available for those on low incomes or currently studying - please contact me for further details.

For Couples:
Our first session will be charged from £75 for up to one hour. If you both decide to continue, sessions will also be charged at the same rate for 50 minutes. This also depends on your circumstances and availability.