Counselling Services - Lincoln & Louth
I offer easy access to high quality psychotherapy and counselling in Lincoln & Louth, empowering and guiding people to improved mental health and growth.
What Counselling and Psychotherapy is...
Both counselling and psychotherapy are terms that cover a wide range of talking therapies that should be delivered by trained professionals who belong to a UK registered professional body.
The specific work done with each client and the timescale will vary depending on the client’s needs, the presenting issues and the professional’s therapy styles. There are many ways to deliver therapy, with different underlying theoretical approaches, using tools, strategies or/and creative methods, but the core of all therapy is the importance of the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist.
A Therapeutic Environment
Therapy provides a client with a safe, confidential space that permits them to explore feelings and emotions that are presenting difficulties for the client and can encompass issues from the past and present.
You are what matters to your therapist. Therapy differs greatly from talking about problems with friends and family. Therapists are trained not to project their own thoughts and feelings onto their clients and discussions can be had without judgement or prejudice.
The exploration of concerning issues within therapy often allows the client time and consideration to identify solutions that suit them and make sense of these issues in a way that is meaningful to them.
Empowerment
Therapy is about empowering the client to control, identify and create meaningful solutions to the issues in their life.
To read more of how this achieved, have a look at Person Centred Counselling here.
The Difference Between Counselling and Psychotherapy
Despite their being no definitive agreed answer to this, and both are often used to describe the same thing. Traditionally, counselling is used to describe a short-term therapeutic relationship, whereas psychotherapy is longer term.
How I work safely with clients
All UK Therapists need to register with a professional governing body and ensure their work holds up to the ethical frameworks outlined by those organisations. The most popular in the UK are the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapists). These provide guidelines to ensure safe practice for both the client and the practitioner. I am registered with the ISPC (International Society of Professional Counsellors) and subscribe to their ethical framework.
As part of the ethical frameworks, there are clear guidelines including:
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Desired therapist values and attributes
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How we should practice (this is generic and is not specific to differing approaches) including the counselling environment, current legislation, confidentiality and setting appropriate boundaries
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How we keep, store and share information about clients
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Therapist supervision requirements
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Therapist fitness to practice and self-care
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Ongoing requirements for the therapist’s continued professional development (CPD)
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The respect of equality and diversity
Boundaries in the therapy room
Appropriate professional boundaries in the therapy sessions are essential to ensure ethical practice and the safety of both client and therapist. These boundaries are set out in your first session, when you will also complete a counselling contract.
Boundaries may include:
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Expectations and limitations of the therapeutic relationship
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Terms of the sessions. Including frequency, fees, duration and cancellation procedures
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Maintaining the therapeutic relationship, including how to respond if you run into your therapist outside of the sessions
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Appropriate behaviour and conduct
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How and why your information is stored and how long it will be held
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Confidentiality and any limitations
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Complaints procedure
Clinical Supervision
This is required monthly for all therapists. The duration may vary depending on the amount of client work or the particular professional body. Clinical supervision is undertaken by an experienced and well-qualified therapist who has achieved a qualification in supervision. Clinical supervision ensures the safety of both client and therapist. It provides the therapist the opportunity to discuss any conflicts both professional and personal, look to solutions, or use it as a space to share new concepts and ideas. Client’s details are kept anonymous where possible but during supervision is the only time a therapist can discuss client work.