Our approach to counselling


The main approach we use, known as 'constructivism', is an approach to life that derives from ancient wisdom traditions and reflects lessons of continuing scholarship and science.

The goals of constructive counselling are there to help each client to better understand and appreciate themselves and others, to develop skills in solving problems about emotions and thinking and in coping with challenges in life, and to encourage their efforts to develop in directions they expect to find fulfilling and meaningful.

Constructivist maps


This approach is 'constructive' because it emphasises the individual's strengths and abilities. Challenges in life are viewed as opportunities to exercise and refine your abilities. These challenges emphasise the importance of choices and actions, particularly in periods of life when you may see only limited or distressing options.

As counsellors, we do our best to understand and to respect each individual's sources of distress. We may also suggest things that they might do. Developmental exercises may include talking about emotions, his or her experience of themselves and theirsituation. We may ask them to keep personal records about some of their experiences or to complete some self-report forms or questionnaires.

Flexible and responsive


This style of counselling is rooted in our assessment of the individual's needs and of how he or she arranges their reasonable satisfaction in life. As we work with these needs and themes, we encourage him or her to recall and reconnect with past successes and together we identify a theme or themes that can make up the entry point to new intiatives. We aim to kindle a 'cycle' of self-development which sustains itself, so that the person gradually learns to build the self he or she is now committed to. Especially by relating and adapting to other people.

When appropriate, we enlarge the constructivist approach with techniques from other approaches. One of these is 'coherence' therapy, which guides your intuition about the emotions you experience. Another is known as 'behaviour and cognitive therapy' and the third is 'acceptance and commitment' therapy. These approach actually overlaps with the constructivist one, but they emphasise the leading and teaching roles of the counsellor much more and therefore suit some clients better than others.

We honour the individual's needs for privacy and respect their decisions about what they choose to share with us. If appropriate, we can communicate at a distance, by email and/or telephone.

How long will it take?


Timing will be important. Too much change or changing too quickly may feel overwhelming. Too little change or changing too slowly may feel discouraging or frustrating. We try to pace my recommendations according to your needs.

The length of our work together will depend on the individual's personal goals, energy, our abilities to communicate with one another, the challenges the individual faces, and the unfolding of events in their immediate future.

We can arrange to meet regularly or periodically. If our work together continues for more than a month (and that is common), we periodically review and jointly evaluate what we have done together.

Will constructivist counselling help?


Most people benefit from constructive counselling. The most common benefits include improvements in self-awareness, self-esteem, self-confidence, hope, courage, optimism, feeling understood, emotional expressiveness, relationships with other people, and taking an active and responsible role in one's life and work.

There can also be risks associated with counselling. The individual may already be in the midst of stressful challenges or changes in your life. Our role is to help him or her to cope with these challenges in ways that serve their well-being and that of the people in their life. Periods of change are often stressful and they are sometimes stormy. They may experience a range of emotions and changes in their relationship with themselves and with other people (including us). Yet, it is rare for people to be harmed by their experience in counselling; when a client is harmed it is most often because of a violation of their psychological boundaries or pushing too hard for dramatic change: we will respect the person's boundaries and their personal pacing.

How does counselling work?


Communication is at the heart of successful counselling; we encourage clients to ask questions and to express their feelings and concerns as openly as possible. We will respect that the information they share with us is private and confidential.

The most important factors contribuitng to success in counselling are persistence and patience, the quality of the relationship that we develop together and the best possible pacing of exercises, enquiries and experiences that encouage and strengthen new patterns of action, thinking and feeling on your part.

Quotations, in confidence


Enquiiries are discussed in some detail and in strict professional confidente.

Quotations are offered free of charge, so that you can be quite clear about what youi are investing in.