Counselling and Psychotherapy for individuals and couples in the heart of Kendal with Diane Griffiths

Talking through your worries, concerns and experience with a therapist can help gain new perspectives on a problem, as well as a deeper understanding of your self and others. The therapist generally does not give advice or tell you what to do, but supports you to come to your own understanding and solutions. My approach is to listen very carefully to what you are saying, reflecting back to you what I understand as your take on the matter, your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes. I will communicate to you from my own perspective anything that feels particularly relevant, striking or persistent, but otherwise I will very much stick with understanding your particular frame of reference, that is, how things particularly appear to you. This helps to support you to maintain and deepen authentic contact with your self, and it is often from this deepening contact, increased self-awareness and understanding, that problems can feel easier to resolve.

This process can take a relatively short length of time, for instance, a single session or a few weeks, but generally will take longer, for instance several months, or a few years, depending on what your needs are. The normal arrangement is to attend on a weekly basis.

Therapy involves the provision of a quiet, safe and confidential space in which to explore and receive support for your thoughts and feelings.

Your first session will offer an opportunity for us to get to know each other a little, and for you especially to decide whether you feel comfortable talking with me regarding your concerns. The first session may involve you talking quite a lot, letting me know what has been happening in your life, and generally getting things off your chest. We may begin together identifying what the issues are and what it is that you want for yourself out of therapy, if you know. Sometimes we don’t know quite what is troubling us, and it may take a while for the relevant issues to emerge. On the other hand, in the first session, we might immediately make headway towards beginning to explore how therapy may help, and what might be the opportunities and solutions.

You can attend for as long as it is useful to you. On occasion one or two sessions are all that are necessary, or it may be that you need a few months to make headway. Many people come for a year or 18 months, or even longer. Its up to you.

 It can be useful to give your therapist notice of ending, so that you can take time to reflect on what the changes have been.

Depending on how long you have spent in therapy, a longer notice period may feel necessary, and this could be a few weeks or even several months, Again, its up to you.

A session is a weekly 50-minute appointment, usually at the same time on the same day although, depending on your circumstances, this may vary.

Individuals £70

Couples £90