
About Counselling
Counselling is a talking therapy that provides people with the opportunity to discuss their thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are causing them difficulties in their life in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
Counsellors are not advisors - they do not advise you how to live your life or make decisions for you. They are trained to help you explore those thoughts and feelings that are troubling you, and to help facilitate change and be autonomous. They provide an objective viewpoint especially when you feel you cannot speak to friends or family about such personal issues.

What conditions can it help?
Here are a few (but not exhaustive) sample common subjects that can be addressed within counselling:-
Anxiety - There can be anxiety around a single issue or multiple issues that can be very debilitating and there are many factors that can cause it from past or childhood experiences, trauma, current life situation to name a few. Counselling aims to explore what may be at the root of the anxiety and where possible to explore strategies to help the way people think and react to triggers that cause anxiety.
Addictions - There is usually a psychological reason behind any addiction and counselling aims to explore the root cause and facilitate changes to thinking to relieve addition.
Bereavement - Losing someone important tp us can be devastating and bereavement affects everyone differently. Effects can be emotional and/or physical and it is possible to experience a wide range of emotions. Your reactions and feelings are unique to you, and counselling helps to explore the way that grief is affecting you, to understand those feelings, to reconcile the loss and adjust to your life going forward without the one you have lost.
Low self-esteem/self-worth- This is all too common and has a detrimental effect on how someone sees their place in the world, in relationships, in work etc. and can often be traced back to childhood experiences, how we were valued, or possibly at a vulnerable time in our lives we were made to feel worthless. It is usually caused by how others expectations are forced upon us and the Counsellor aims to help and support the client to recognise their own value system and encourage their own autonomy.

What Benefits can be expected?
Benefits will depend on the individual and their commitment to counselling. Only the client can make the change that will improve their lives and that may need courage, resilience, and determination by the client as the issues they bring to counselling are gently and sensitively explored.
The safe, non-judgmental space that Counselling provides, coupled with empathy and compassion for some people is enough. For others it may be the opportunity to explore and understand deep-rooted thoughts, emotions, or trauma they feel they need to resolve after a troubled past.
Michael - a therapist covering Plymouth, Tavistock, Yelverton, Saltash and Ivybridge for face to face sessions.
Call me on 07379 693883 or Email me whether you require face to face, telephone or online sessions.
Find Me
You can also find Michael at NCS (National Counselling Society) Directory at the Counselling Directory and at the BACP Register Member No. 381974
($1$).png/$file/Logos-combo(update)($1$).png)