Counselling - a way forward for you?
Counselling, or talking therapy, comes in many shapes. It is not my aim to get into the many different theories that are out there. My goal for this blog is create an understanding of what I offer in the counselling room. Hopefully, it can be a way forward for you.
In psychotherapy, the person has to lead, to tell their own story. This is the building material of the working therapeutic relationship. From this we will try to facilitate the individual to find their own answers – to be curious about themselves. It is not my objective to force my philosophy, whether personal or professional, on the client. Rather it is to help them to adjust their own personal attitudes to lead a more contented life. Maybe it’s time for you to understand how you are in the world. Why you are the way you are and why it might be time to question and change this. Is it time, with the help of a counsellor, to look for your own answers? This can be quite intimidating but remember in therapy you are not facing this alone. I will accompany you.
The counselling relationship offers us the potential to be real, to be honest when we appraise our stories. It is this honesty, employed in a compassionate way, that allows us to examine what really needs to be looked at. Again, this can be overwhelming but remember it is done at the pace of the person coming to counselling. Through gradual acceptance and understanding of these issues, we may find relief and in time ways to progress your life. Not to put too fine a point on it but to start to become the person you need to be.
A lot of people can find this form of counselling challenging – why come to therapy and NOT get the answers presented to you? If I, as a mental health professional, advise you to take certain courses in your life then your own intuition might be ignored. It is this very same intuition that we are seeking to identify and strengthen. We are allowing the individual to become aware enough to offer themselves their own answers.
Whilst I do not see myself as directive, I do see myself as active in working with the individual to figure out their experiences, feelings, thoughts and all the other components of their lives. By listening and, indeed, truly hearing the individual’s plight a catharsis of sorts might occur followed by possible avenues of progress. Tentative steps can then be taken to amend and change the course of one’s life. ‘Failure’ in this does not necessarily have to be labelled so harshly – it can be a real opportunity for growth once re-examined in therapy.
I think it’s appropriate to conclude by mentioning that every individual is unique and so is their life experience. Each individual’s life experience is not linear – it doesn’t happen in any specific order. It is not tailored to suit any specific plan, different routes through counselling happen for each individual. What I have discussed in this blog is an attempt to understand how counselling might look like for you.
Should you wish to know more please do not hesitate to contact me through the site, phone or email. I am situated in Caragh village, which is a short drive from Naas (7 min.s) and Newbridge (11 min.s) and I also offer online therapy. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
William Dunlea,
Caragh,
Naas,
Co. Kildare.
