Active Listening and Empathy
You’re in charge
At Northern Counselling Practice, I offer compassionate and evidence-informed mental health support, primarily delivered through a tele-health model. My person-centred approach is rooted in understanding your unique situation and empowering you with practical strategies and tools.
Drawing from my experience, I provide information and support to individuals experiencing or at risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide. This often involves:
Active Listening and Empathy: Creating a safe and non-judgmental space for you to share your experiences and feelings. I listen attentively to understand your unique situation.
Providing Information and Resources: Offering evidence-based information about mental health conditions, symptoms, and available support options. This can include directing you to relevant articles or self-help tools.
Guided Self-Help: Guiding you through structured sessions, providing practical strategies and tools to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood, particularly relevant for mild to moderate mental health issues.
Problem-Solving: Collaborating with you to identify specific challenges and develop actionable steps to address them. This might involve setting goals, breaking down problems, and exploring different coping mechanisms.
Connecting to Further Support: If you require more intensive or specialized help, I can facilitate connections to appropriate local health and community services, such as GPs, psychologists, or other mental health professionals.
Crisis Support and Risk Assessment: While not an emergency service, I am trained to assess immediate risk and guide individuals towards urgent support if they are experiencing severe distress or suicidal thoughts.
Reducing Stigma: By offering accessible and confidential support, I aim to contribute to breaking down the stigma associated with mental health challenges, encouraging more people to seek help.
Your Questions About Counselling Answered
It's completely normal to feel a bit daunted when considering sharing your personal thoughts and feelings with a counsellor for the first time. We get it. Rest assured, at Northern Counselling Practice, my approach is to meet you where you are. I take special care during your first session to help you feel comfortable and at ease.
Here are some common questions people often ask before starting their counselling journey:
Why Do People Seek Counselling?
The reasons people come to counselling are as unique as the individuals themselves. You might be navigating a present challenge like bereavement, a separation, or another significant life transition. Sometimes, past experiences might be casting a shadow on your present.
Others seek support to address a general feeling that life just isn't quite right, or to cope with the burden of depression or anxiety. Some clients turn to counselling as part of a deeper effort to discover or create more meaning in their lives. Many are drawn to counselling as a valuable opportunity for personal development in a safe and supportive environment. You don't need a "problem" to find counselling beneficial. People seeking general personal growth, as well as those facing challenges ranging from "minor niggles" to profound distress, have all found significant benefit through counselling.
Counsellor vs. Psychologist: Understanding the Distinction
It's common to wonder about the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist. Both professions aim to support mental well-being, but they often approach it from different angles, with varying levels of training and areas of focus.
Counsellors
A counsellor helps individuals develop self-understanding and make positive changes in their lives. We work within a clear, principled relationship, providing a safe space for you to explore and resolve personal or interpersonal challenges. The focus is typically on current life issues and developing coping strategies to improve your daily functioning and overall well-being.
Psychologists
Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. They undergo extensive training, which often includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. Beyond clinical diagnoses, many psychologists also work with mentally healthy individuals to help them function better and achieve personal growth. Their work is often grounded in a broader scientific understanding of the mind.
In essence, while both professions offer valuable support for your mental health journey, the choice often depends on the nature of your concerns. If you're seeking support for present-day challenges and personal development, a counsellor can provide focused guidance. If your needs involve formal diagnosis, treatment of complex mental illnesses, or deeper behavioral assessments, a psychologist might be the more suitable professional.
