What is person-centred counselling?
Person-centred counselling is a form of talking therapy. It's a humanistic approach because it believes you, the client, are the ultimate expert on your own life. This means you lead counselling sessions and direct the conversation to the issues you want to discuss.
So, no advice, you ask? That's right. People are often surprised when I say that I don’t give answers to their problems or provide any kind of diagnosis. The reason is that by offering you a safe, trusting and confidential environment, working at your own pace and without any kind of judgement, encourages you to find your own solutions to problems. And if it comes from you, the benefits are long-lasting:
Builds confidence and resilience
Better self-awareness
Learn how to trust your own judgement
Empowers you to look within yourself for answers when future problems arise
What happens in a person-centred counselling session?
Whether it's online, over the phone, or in-person, there is no session agenda. What happens is dependent on how you, the client, want to use it:
You lead the way - that could mean you talk about what happened that day, that week or even years ago. You might also want to talk about the future. Alternatively, you might not feel like talking much and just want to sit quietly with your thoughts - and that's OK.
Feel understood - clients often feel that their counsellor 'gets them', that they can see the world through their eyes and with that can come strong emotions.
Silence is normal - there may be moments of silence, and that's normal, as it allows you to process your thoughts, let something sink in, and give you time to work out how you're feeling.
Active listening and reflecting - the counsellor will listen with empathy. You will notice they might repeat or paraphrase what you've said. This is because, often, hearing someone else say it out loud can give you a deeper understanding or a fresh perspective on an issue.
How do you know it's working?
At the start, you will set your own goals for counselling with your therapist, and you'll revisit them from time to time to check your progress.
Everyone's progress is different. Sometimes, one session is enough. Sometimes it requires a longer commitment. With most clients, improvement isn't in a straight upward line - it can feel like two steps forward, one step back - you can even feel stuck at times. This is normal. In a good therapeutic relationship, you will feel comfortable enough with your counsellor to share any setbacks and obstacles you're experiencing so you can work through them together.
The signs that person-centred counselling is working vary from person to person, but could include:
Feeling less stressed in your body - sleeping better, calmer breathing, muscles relaxing
Having a better understanding of why you think, feel and behave the way you do
Starting to try new behaviours - setting boundaries, saying no, testing out different coping mechanisms in real life
Ability to catch negative thought patterns before they escalate
Friends and family may comment on a positive change in you
Is person-centred counselling right for you?
Person-centred counselling is suitable for a range of issues including:
Anxiety
Grief
Relationships
Depression
Stress and burnout
If you're interested in focusing on personal growth with someone who will listen to you with empathy and without judgement, person-centred counselling could be right for you.
Before you sign up, I recommend you speak with a few possible counsellors first to find a good fit for you. I'm always very happy to have an informal, confidential chat to hear what you're struggling with and to tell you more about myself and how I can help. There's no obligation, just a chance to see if I'm the right counsellor for you.
Whatever form of counselling you choose, I wish you the very best.
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