What do you want to know?
Who can benefit from CBT?
Many people can benefit from CBT. Usually CBT works well with psychological problems of depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders and others. It is also helpful in addressing the psychological repercussion of physiological problems such as Chronic Fatigue. CBT can help with work related issues such as bullying, decision making and any other conditions resulting from life changes.
What would CBT be used to help?
Most of my support is for emotional problems centred around anxiety, stress, depression, addiction, assertiveness, negativity, self esteem and confidence. CBT also helps to tackle phobias, grief and loss, insomnia, conflict resolution, trauma, anger, fatigue or pain.
Do I need help and support?
Counselling may be for you if you are feeling anxious, depressed, or unfulfilled in any sense and nothing seems to help. You may have tried to cope with your problems on your own but you find it hard to deal with. Counselling can help you develop the necessary coping skills and can provide you with a set of new strategies you can apply to make your problem manageable. If you can afford it, good competent professional help is worthwhile. When problems or feelings interfere with life, either individually, in relationships or at work, it's advisable to seek help.
How long is the therapy?
Usually you will come for therapy once a week for fifty minutes. The first session is used to make an assessment in order to prepare a plan for treatment. Generally I'll contract for about six weeks, then review your progress and, if necessary, re-contract for more sessions. By the end of your treatment, you will have learnt new skills that you can use on your own in the future.
Where do the sessions take place?
My session room is in Sauchiehall Street, in the centre of Glasgow. Rail and bus links into the Centre of Glasgow are plentiful, and if coming by car, the session room is within a minute of leaving the M8. Look at the map to see where to come.
Who will know about my sessions?
Our counselling is confidential. All personal information is treated in the strictest confidence and remains confidential to the counsellor. This is crucial for you to feel able to trust the service, knowing that it is safe to talk openly about what is happening. This strict confidentiality rule would only be broken, in most cases with the client's consent, should exceptional circumstances arise which give the counsellor good grounds for believing that serious harm may be caused to the client or to others. This policy is in accordance with the code of ethics of the British Psychological Society.
What would my commitment be in Counselling?
Therapy is a major commitment, both in terms of time and money. The sessions last for 50 minutes once a week. Although some clients prefer more than one session a week. You are also expected to do some tasks or between sessions activities that can make you practice the new skills and abilities in their real environment. These tasks are agreed between you and your counsellor and have the goal of transferring what you have gained during the sessions to where the problem occurs. Research demonstrates that clients who carry out homework assignments get better faster and stay better longer. Your self-help homework might include keeping track of your moods, thoughts and behaviours, scheduling activities, developing goals, challenging your negative thoughts, changing the way you communicate with others, or whatever is deemed necessary for your specific problem.
What Benefits Can Be Expected?
Through the counselling process and the individual commitment, clients will be able to acquire new skills and new insight of themselves which eventually will enable them to be their own therapist.