Counselling & Psychotherapy

Jeff’s approach

My work with people draws upon a wide range of models of psychotherapy and counselling, some traditional and some more contemporary. An absolute foundation of my work is respect for others and their individual lives and experiences, which may be very different from my own. I aim to be open to peoples needs and endeavour to find individualised responses to those particular needs. In this way I am able to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Many people’s first contact with me is motivated from a place of extreme crisis and/or distress. My approach is to provide a welcoming safe haven from which to begin to explore ways to move on.

Many clients who have believed that their experiences were too shocking to share have benefited from my warm, accepting and down to earth approach. I believe that freedom of choice and self-esteem depend on knowing ourselves clearly, and attach great value to working through unfinished business from our past.

• I am interested in exploring ways that learned survival patterns can limit freedom and choice in everyday life.
• I am interested in working with men and women who want to know themselves better and understand themselves more deeply.
• I have a particular interest in working with Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents and anyone whose life has been effected by another’s drinking.
• I recognise and appreciate that sometimes humour can be a useful aid to the healing process.
• I am interested in my own and others’ creativity and have enjoyed working with a variety of creative artists including painters, musicians, writers, ceramicists, sculptors and actors.
• My aim is to work collaboratively and in ways that are nurturing, stimulating and facilitative. I enjoy helping people rediscover and reclaim their excitement and passion. 

I work with here and now issues in therapy and also believe that our personal history shapes our responses to present day situations. My approach to supervision work focuses largely on helping each supervisee find their own individualised style of working whilst remaining within their ethical and competence framework and retaining client well being as a priority at all times.

I am often asked the difference between counselling and psychotherapy. This can be a difficult question as in many ways the overlap can be much greater than the difference! One possible distinction between the two is to consider how the respective professional bodies see the differences. To be eligible for UKCP registration as a psychotherapist requires approximately twice as much training and experience as is needed to become a registered counsellor with the BACP. BACP also offer accredited status to members who can provide evidence of further training and experience.

It is well worth remembering that Counsellor and Psychotherapist are not protected titles and accordingly it is always well worth asking anyone describing themselves in this way by what criteria they assume the title!  I am registered with the UKCP and am an accredited member of BACP.

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a psychological and relational process. It is a means of exploring interpersonal or emotional difficulties and confusions. It is a process of raising awareness and gaining self knowledge, which can begin open up pathways towards resolution. Many people are drawn to psychotherapy as part of a quest for a different experience of life.

Psychotherapy and counselling

A very simple distinction between the 2 terms is that many people would regard psychotherapy as longer term and more in depth whilst counselling could be seen as shorter term and more solution focused. This is for me a much over simplified distinction but it is not a bad starting point! 

Couples

The focus in couples counselling is on the relationship and improving difficulties in communication or resolving differences between people. Couples therapy can be useful in managing…

• Communication.
• Relationship difficulties.
• Resolving differences.
• Managing Crisis.
• Dealing with life after infidelity and affairs.
• Helping couples to understand the impact of outdated patterns of behaviour and beliefs, which no longer support the partnership.
• Helping both parties explore new ways to support each other and move on.
• Amicable separations.