How Counselling Works

I often hear that question from my clients, especially at the start of the work. People sometimes struggle to imagine how talking therapy can help with their anxiety, depression, or trauma. Below, I will explain in more detail some of the tools that make counselling work.

My integrative approach which includes Person-Centred Theory, Transactional Analysis, Psychodynamic, and CBT, tailors the work around each individual client according to their needs.

Here's an easier way to understand how I can support you:

Establishing a Therapeutic Alliance: At the core of how counselling works is the relationship that I would establish with the client, known as the therapeutic alliance. This trusting relationship is built on empathy, respect, and collaboration and is critical for engaging you in the therapeutic process and facilitating change.

Providing a Non-judgmental Environment: This will give you the space to open up about your issues without fear of criticism. We can explore your difficult feelings and where they might be coming from. Showing vulnerability is not always easy, although finding the strength to do so may open up new perspectives on how to address problems.

Facilitating Insight and Awareness: Through various therapeutic techniques, I will support you in gaining a deeper understanding of your problems and the underlying patterns that may contribute to them. Techniques such as reflective listening, mirroring, and Socratic Questioning can reveal new perspectives and lead to self-awareness.

Teaching New Skills: In our work, we can discover what is a unique way for you to manage stress, anxiety, or depression. We would explore your current coping strategies and what you like or dislike about them. Then, I will help you to discover a new way of managing your difficult feelings. This is often the first step in therapy, which gives the clients the resilience to explore issues deeper.

Goal Setting: In our first session, I will assist you in setting realistic and achievable goals for our therapeutic work. This is an important step to make sure that we are on the same page. Sometimes, clients don’t have a clear goal, and they just want the space to express feelings. That’s normal, and we can always review our work and refocus on a newly discovered strategy.

Enhancing Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Our therapeutic work can also support you in relationship issues or general interaction with others. If you choose to focus on that aspect, we can discuss techniques used to improve communication conflict-resolution skills and support understanding between partners or family members.

Creating a Safe Space: This is particularly true for those who experienced trauma. I would tailor the work around their individual needs, supporting them to proceed at a pace that they can handle. Together with that, the aim would be to create an awareness of the present safety of the client, through techniques like mindfulness.

Overall, counselling works by blending art and science. The helpfulness of counselling comes from its evidence-based approach. My integrative approach is designed to suit different issues to support and empower individuals for their life journey.

If you feel that you need to talk, you can always contact me at 07831 678754 or email me at info@kremismithcounselling.co.uk.

I am available for online counselling or face-to-face sessions at Upper Grosvenor Road in Tunbridge Wells.