You might be feeling anxious about your first session. Making the decision to get help and address the issues you are facing is an important first step and should be commended. Knowing what to expect from our counselling sessions should help you feel more prepared and less nervous about your first appointment.

In your first session, I will ask you some questions in order to gain an understanding of what's worrying you and the way your thought processes work. All of the information obtained here will be used to help you in future sessions. Types of questions include:

Why are you seeking counselling? - what it is that has brought you here. This is your opportunity to discuss exactly why you are here and what you hope to gain from counselling.

What is your current situation and personal history? - It is important to let your counsellor know your current situation, this includes any day-to-day issues you are facing and even your work and home life. Discussing your personal history will give your counsellor a chance to understand more about you as a person and why these issues may have occurred.

What symptoms are you experiencing? - Whether these are physical or psychological, it is important to discuss any symptoms with your counsellor.

My aim is to build a trusting relationship with you so that you feel safe and confident discussing your worries.

I will establish some clear boundaries when we begin our sessions that cover the following:

• dates and times of the counselling sessions
• confidentiality agreement
• clarification of the professional nature of the counsellor/client relationship
• how and when I can be contacted outside of sessions

When it comes to counselling there are a range of different approaches or therapies that can be used. The type of therapy I use are explained below and will be dependent on the issues you are facing and what type of person/couple you are. I usually won't decide on a therapy type until I have found out more about you, the problems you face and the way you think.

Psychodynamic therapy

The psychodynamic approach is guided by the core principle that the unconscious mind harbours deep-rooted feelings and memories that can affect our behaviour.

Psychodynamic therapists will work according to this, in context-specific ways, catering their techniques and therapy style to the client. They maintain an equal relationship with the client, adopting the attitude of unconditional acceptance and aiming to develop a trusting relationship. This encourages them to open up and explore any unresolved issues and conflict hidden in their unconscious that may be affecting their mood and behaviour.

While it shares the same core principles of psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy is typically far less intensive - focusing primarily on immediate problems and attempting to find a quicker solution. Both approaches, however, are said to help people with a range of psychological disorders to make significant changes to how they make decisions and interact with others.

For further information on Psychodynamic counselling, please click here.

Systemic (family) therapy

Family therapy (also referred to as systemic therapy) looks to help members of a family/relationship understand each other better, change negative behaviours and resolve conflicts. It is appropriate for all ages and can even be useful for individuals. We’re all unique, we have different perspectives and experience life events a little differently. When you throw family dynamics into this mix, it’s perhaps unsurprising that relationships can become fraught.

For further information on Systemic counselling, please click here.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a specific way of paying attention to what is happening in our lives in the present moment, as it truly is. Of course, it won't eliminate life's pressures - but with practice it can help us take notice of (and hopefully stop) negative, habitual reactions to everyday stress. Mindfulness aims to reconnect us with ourselves to alleviate stress. It also helps us to feel more attuned with our emotions and generally more aware of ourselves both mentally and physically.

For further information on Systemic counselling, please click here.

Mentalization based therapy

Mentalization therapy helps couples experiencing relationship difficulties and high levels of inter-parental conflict. Mentalization helps couples/parents gain more 'perspective' in order that they can start to put the needs of their children first. Qualified therapists use this approach to help couples who often feel so caught up in the difficulties and emotional turmoil of their relationship that they struggle to be able to think about how their partner, or their children, are feeling.

For further information on Mentalization based therapy, please click here.

Couple Therapy for Depression

This therapy aims to reduce damaging interactions between couples,

• builds emotional openness and closeness,
• improves communication and behaviour,
• changes unhelpful cognitions and perceptions, and
• helps the couple cope with the ordinary and not-so-ordinary stresses that arise in the course of everyday relating.

For further information on Mentalization based therapy, please clickhere.