When everyday life feels like a struggle
You might be feeling depressed, anxious and finding everyday life a struggle. You might be lying awake with a racing mind, feeling on edge for no clear reason, or so overwhelmed that even small things feel too much. You might feel flat and disconnected, going through the motions. Or you might carry a quiet, persistent sense that you are not enough, whatever you achieve.
You may be concerned that your issues aren't 'big enough' to need counselling. Counselling is for anyone who feels they need some time, space and support. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to come.
Shame, guilt and the inner critic
Anxiety and low mood are often tangled up with how we feel about ourselves. Many people arrive with a harsh inner voice that tells them they are too much, not enough, or somehow at fault. We often adapt our true selves to manage the pressures of life, and over time that adapting can leave us exhausted and unsure of who we are underneath.
Part of the work is getting to know that critical voice, where it came from, and what it is trying to protect. Meeting it with compassion rather than more criticism can be the beginning of a different relationship with yourself.
How I work with this
My approach is humanistic and integrative. The 'humanistic' part means I create a safe space to focus on you as an individual and a whole person, without judgement, and work alongside you to support your growth. The 'integrative' part means I can draw on other approaches, so we can shape a way of working that feels suited to you.
Alongside talking, we may pay attention to what is happening in your body, since anxiety and low mood are felt physically as much as thought. Where it's helpful, we can look at links between past experience and the patterns that show up now, and I sometimes use creativity and metaphor as another language for what is hard to say.
What people often find
Counselling can help you make sense of your feelings, behaviour and relationships. It can lead to deepened self-awareness and can help you find ways to become 'unstuck' and move forward with life. It can be an opportunity to say the things you may never have had the chance to say before, out loud, and to feel heard.
Practicalities
Sessions can be in person in South Bristol (BS3), online or by phone. We can work for an agreed number of sessions or in a more open-ended way, and we begin with a free 30-minute meeting so you can see whether it feels right. Some concessionary spaces are available for people on a lower income.