New Leaf Counselling

There are no two identical sessions! However, you can typically expect a mix of present issues, thoughts and feelings, sometimes linking these to past experiences where appropriate. After the first couple of sessions, I will not be talking a lot – sessions are conversational but client-led. Sometimes, you can expect silence – this can help us connect with what lies deeper under the surface. I believe that clients are experts in their own life, and as such I do not bring a fixed agenda. Instead, I work with what arises, and what feels live in a given session.

If you are here, it is probably a sign that something in your life doesn’t feel quite right and that you may benefit from counselling. If you arrange an initial call with me, we can unpack this together so that you can decide if you wish to take it further.

The number of sessions required will be different for everybody. Some people arrive eager to get things off their chest, whilst others take a little bit longer to establish trust before they feel ready to be vulnerable in the therapy room. Specific issues, e.g. work-related or temporary, may only require 3-6 sessions for you to gain enough clarity and strength to resolve them on your own. If you come with a broader desire to understand your emotional patterns, make space for psychological growth, or improve your relationships (including with yourself), long-term open-ended work would facilitate that goal best.

The quality of our relationship is vital to the success of therapy. It is important that there is a sense of connectedness between us. If you don’t feel that I am the right counsellor for you, it is okay to tell me that at any time. You are always free to find another therapist instead.

While there isn’t a clear line between the two, counselling is typically short-term, and aims to address a specific issue. Psychotherapy is more long-term work and involves a deeper exploration of issues and experiences. If you find yourself struggling with the same issues over and over again, therapy could help you take stock and find ways of breaking the mould. Psychotherapy is typically open-ended – the client decides when they are ready to stop. Both modes are therapeutic, and both can bring substantial benefit.

Every therapeutic relationship is different, and evidence suggests that it is the strength of client-therapist alliance that determines the success of therapy. The right fit is paramount, and that is why I offer a free 20-minute consultation which will give you an opportunity to tell me more about your reservations and decide whether what I offer is in line with your needs.

I practice client confidentiality in line with BACP guidelines. This means that, in the vast majority of circumstances, whatever is said in the therapy room remains confidential.

I may discuss aspects of anonymised client work with my supervisor in order to ensure best practice. No personal details or identifying information are shared, and my supervisor is bound by the same confidentiality principles as I am.

I keep brief records of sessions attended as encrypted files on a password-protected device.

In extremely rare circumstances, I may be required to break confidentiality in line with my ethical and legal responsibilities. This would generally only occur where I have a firm belief that there is a serious risk of significant harm to the client or to another person. Where possible, I would always discuss this with the client first.

Disclosing things you have never told anyone about can make you feel vulnerable and overwhelmed. However, the release that comes from difficult experiences being held safely and respectfully by another person can be transformative. If at any point you become overwhelmed in the room, I am skilled in grounding techniques that can help bring you back to equilibrium.

Sometimes, in the initial stages of therapy, you may find that you are temporarily feeling worse than you did before. This is because therapy encourages us to confront pain which may previously have been buried (although still real and affecting). I will support you through this initial difficult stage, and we will regularly review our progress to make sure that the therapy is working for you.

Change can mean many things, depending on what hopes and expectations you bring to therapy. Whilst the benefits of the work cannot be guaranteed, I will be listening carefully to what you hope to gain from therapy. Once we establish a strong working relationship, and you engage fully in the therapy process, you will likely begin to see some changes. These may involve a greater understanding of yourself or an increased tolerance of challenging emotions. You may also develop your ability to form open and intimate relationships with other people.

I focus on therapeutic processing rather than direct life advice. Therapy space functions best when it is devoted to sitting with difficult feelings. Perhaps you have been in a situation where you just needed someone to listen, without telling you what you should do – therapy is a bit like that. However, to clients who find it helpful, I do teach relaxation techniques that support self-care.

Hearing your own thoughts and feelings reflected by an AI can be provide temporary relief when no other mental health support is available. However, as embodied beings, there is nothing quite like the care of another person who can empathise with your experience. Research indicates that simply breathing and sharing the same space can help us regulate emotionally. The compassionate and supportive presence of another person is invaluable in healing from mental and emotional pain.