I consider the first session to be a mutual assessment. You have the opportunity to access if this is the right counsellor and right type of therapy and I also have the same opportunity.

What does the Psychotherapist do?

Within talking therapy the psychotherapist will listen attentively and carefully to the issues and concerns of the client. The Counsellor is trained to listen to the whole person and to the information communicated at depth, and not just the words coming out of the mouth. The Counsellor will seek to provide the right environment for the client to be able to access feelings and explore difficult issues.

What do you talk about?

Whatever you want, you are in charge, you bring the material / the issues / problems to work with. Sometimes clients come to the session with a clear idea of what to talk about and some come with no ideas and seek to express what is going on for them in the present moment. I will help you express and explore your feelings and in times of silence attend to what is being said in these quite moments.

• Q: What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?
• A: Generally, Counselling is concerned with a specific issue. Psychotherapy is broader in scope and sometimes longer in duration, although there are common characteristics between the two practices.