HTML BuilderWhat is Therapy?
Is it really confidential?
What does approach / modality mean?
Will I be told what to do?
Do I have to commit to anything?
But, what do I talk about?
I've never been to therapy, what can I expect?
What are the costs?
Do I have to lie down?
I'm not mentally ill, do I really need therapy?
Will I feel silly talking about my problems?
How to I book therapy?
Therapy provides a safe and confidential space for you to talk to a trained professional about your issues and concerns.
Your therapist will help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so you can develop a better understanding of yourself and of others.
A counsellor will not give you their opinions or advice or prescribe medication.
They will help you find your own solutions – whether that’s making effective changes in your life or finding ways of coping with your problems.
(BACP 2022)
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In most cases, yes definitely. Confidentiality is an important part of building trust with your therapist, an important part of a therapeutic relationship. However, there are some exceptions to this, which are necessary to allow the therapist to work responsibly and ethically.
These are; Supervision of the therapist by another therapist who is experienced and bound by the same confidentiality, Safety of yourself and other, Organisational so your therapist is able to offer you the service , Legal as we must all comply with legislation such as Court Orders, Human trafficking and child abuse laws etc.
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The approach or modality refers to the type of therapy being offered.
It is important to select a counsellor that offers an approach that has a proven track record and has been shown to be effective.
At Westoaks we offer a mainly person centered approach, this puts the client at the centre of the work and in control of their own treatment. But, we are also able to use elements of others therapies when these are appropriate to a client's needs
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At your appointment, you'll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a trained therapist, who'll listen and support you without judging or criticising. You will have agreed the issues that you want to address, but the individual sessions are often very flexible. Will you get things to do at home? Possibly, but only with your agreement, your therapist may suggest activities they think would help you.
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You will get the best benefit from therapy if you commit to the principles that have been shown to help. That is, attending regular and predictable sessions, not cancelling your sessions once arranged, being open and honest about your self, your feelings and your thoughts, accepting the confidential nature of the sessions. All these help to create a therapeutic relationship, which is the most important element of the therapy. Of course you will also be committed to paying for your therapy and any cancellation fees.
Remember, you are able to stop therapy at any time.
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You can talk about whatever you want. Most people come to therapy because of something specific, like anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, abuse. People might just be going through a life transition and want someone to talk with to help them cope.
Normally the reason you seek therapy will be discussed with you by your therapist and goals agreed about what you wish to achieve.
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First contact with a counsellor is normally by telephone or email, often that will result in a short exchange, enquiries and answers, mainly to see if the service offered is one that meets your needs. You can then book a short first session to see how things go or a full session if you are confident it is right for you. The first session can be paid for on the day, further sessions being paid for in advance when booked, normally at the previous session. Sessions are normally weekly either in person at the therapists rooms, sometimes via video link, if by video link you will need appropriate equipment and be able to use a private and quite room with no distractions for the whole of the session. Regular reviews of the sessions will take place, maybe every four or six weeks, to ensure progress is positive and the service still meets your needs and wishes.
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The cost of the service can be found on the home page. Most people will fall into the standard service category, but their are reduced rates for students of counselling and for some specific services offered to veterans.
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No you do not have to lie down. It is important that you are comfortable, so you will be seated on a chair or seat you are happy with. You will be face to face with you therapist and can easily see each other. Even on a video link the therapist will ensure you can see at least half of their body and head, this allows you to get a better feedback of their body language and arm movements, it is also good for clients to do similar.
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People often freak out when they hear the word "therapy". But it is a common misconception, counselling or psychotherapy isn't just for those who are experiencing mental illness. It can be beneficial for anyone who is experiencing anxiety, stress, intense emotions or life changing periods and simply wish to improve their life and be able to cope better with what is happening.
It actually promotes mental wellbeing and good mental health. A lot of clients come to therapy when they are still coping well with life maybe holding down jobs or other responsibilities, but they may feel that something is just not quite right, that feeling of something being a little off and they need to talk it through in an accepting and safe way.
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Many people who come to therapy feel their problems are not valid, or that others are more deserving, this is not uncommon, in fact it is a common feeling among people starting therapy. Often people who would benefit from therapy are the ones who minimis their own distress; "others have it much worse", "it really is not that bad". Your therapists task will be to hear you, to understand what is going on for you, and offer a safe, secure and importantly a non judgmental space in which to talk about your issues, nothing is too trivial or unimportant.
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To book, or ask questions, please contact us using the phone number or email address on the home page. We are happy to answer your questions. Sometimes we are not able to talk to you immediately (we may be in session), so please be prepared to leave a message if phoning, speak slowly and clearly, especially when leaving phone numbers and always say if it is okay to call you back and leave you a message.
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