What Is Counselling?
Occasionally we need help to sort out a problem or difficulty or we may experience distressing feelings which cause concern and perhaps result in physical symptoms. Counselling can provide support through difficult periods in your life and help you to try to make some sense of what is happening.  It can be helpful with many different situations for example depression, anxiety, stress including stress at work, loss and bereavement, relationship difficulties, managing anger, poor self-confidence and low self-esteem and coping with changes in our lives.

A counsellor will not only listen to you but try to help you to understand feelings like anger, anxiety, grief and embarrassment and, if appropriate, explore avenues for change. Counselling cannot solve all your problems. However talking through problem situations and sharing intense and often bottled up feelings with an impartial, independent and non-judgmental person can help us to cope with those feelings and develop alternative ways of managing difficult situations.

I'm Not Sure About Counselling What Should I Do?
Discussing your situation with a stranger can be difficult. The first contact is your opportunity to find out more about the process and have your questions answered. There is also need to discuss your requirements and whether I can meet them.  Counselling is not always the most suitable help for everyone and if you feel that it is not for you then there is no obligation to continue. However we may be able to discuss other, more appropriate, forms of help.

How Long Does Counselling Take?
If you decide counselling may help a series of sessions can be arranged. Short term counselling for a specific problem may only last a few sessions. Deeper rooted difficulties may need regular sessions over a longer period of time.

Counselling In General Practice
During the standard length GP consultation there may be little scope for exploring the root causes of issues like anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties or for helping clients to share painful feelings for example following a loss or bereavement.  The prescription of drugs may not be appropriate or effective under these circumstances. Counsellors have more time to offer clients and exploring these issues in more depth can result in the reduction of both psychological and physical symptoms.

Work Place Counselling
Employers can offer their staff counselling and related services in a number of different ways. Workplace schemes range from a basic relaxation programme or counselling or stress management referral service to a complete counselling package or provision for more specialised requirements. Services can be flexibly designed to meet the individual needs of different firms.

If you would like more information on Perception's services please do contact me. I would be pleased to discuss whether I can meet your requirements

Please note that the outcome of this type of work cannot be guaranteed. Perception services are not suitable for individuals in immediate crisis and in need of urgent help.  I reserve the right to decline to work with or recommend onward referral for people who I consider need services which I am unable to provide.

Those experiencing an immediate crisis or in need of urgent help can contact their family doctor service or the accident and emergency or similar department at your local hospital.  In the England and Wales NHS Direct (see below) may also be able to help you.  If you do not want to access urgent help through the health services, a listening service is provided by the Samaritans (UK) or Befrienders International (other areas, subject to availability).