There are many and varied reasons why individuals seek counselling or psychotherapy.

Often it is when they feel a crisis has happened in their lives and they want to process these difficult and often painful feelings in an environment where their distress can be seen, heard and understood.

It may be they feel something in their lives needs to change, perhaps they have been repeating patterns of behaviour which they feel is destructive and they wish to understand why, or they just wish to explore themselves and their thoughts and feelings in more depth to understand themselves and gain more clarity in their lives.

As human beings we are naturally capable of personal development and growth. Conquering our doubts and fears can enable us to find meaning in our lives, live a more fulfilling life and reach our true potential.

A therapist will encourage you to talk about what has been bothering you in order to help uncover how you are really feeling and to help you to identify your specific ways of thinking and coping with difficulties. It may be important to think about why you cope with life’s challenges in these ways which might not be helpful to you. Insight and understanding can reduce the power which motivates the way we feel and behave.

Coming into counselling or psychotherapy will provide you with a safe environment in which you can explore an understand difficult feelings, confusion and anxiety. It may often be necessary to look beyond the presenting problem to underlying causes enabling the resolution of longstanding as well as immediate difficulties.

The relationship you build with your therapist is of fundamental importance in allowing you to move through your difficulties, overcoming your struggles and can foster strength, resilience and a sense of completeness. Experiencing the therapist as accepting and non-judgemental can allow you to explore these often painful issues and to make positive changes.

Individual CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can help with symptoms including social anxiety, phobias and help to change thought processes linked to the symptom. It can help with strategies for specific problems.

The first appointment...

We recognise the important of ensuring that the counsellor or psychotherapist you see is someone with whom you feel comfortable and able to talk as freely as possible about the issues which might be troubling you. The first appointment is an opportunity for you to get a sense as to whether counselling or psychotherapy with a particular therapist is likely to be helpful. He/she will encourage you to think and talk about what may have brought you to see them and help you to uncover something of what you are thinking and feeling and to begin to identify some of your specific ways of thinking and coping with difficulties

You will get a chance to see how that therapist attempts to understand your difficulties and will help you to consider if it makes sense to you. From here the therapist will suggest you have a think about the session and make direct contact with them if you feel it has been helpful and you would like to continue to see them.







If you are looking for counselling or psychotherapy in Ipswich, Suffolk, we aim to offer you an initial appointment within 48 hours.