I have a focus on bereavement counselling as I believe that all pain can be attributed to loss and grief over a life that was or a life that could have been. The theories of grief can help us make sense of our anguish when we lose a relationship, a job, as well as the passing of a loved one.
Responses to grief can be broadly placed in two camps: restorative orientation or loss orientation (Dual Process Model of Grief by Stroebe and Schut). Some people find it easier to place their energy into getting on with the rest of life, preoccupying themselves with the practical and controllable sides of life. Others are floored and swept up in the waves of loss. No side is wrong. We need to experience both.
Counselling can be valuable to those who have become stuck in the restorative orientation. In order to get by each hour, let alone each day, they detach from their feelings of loss and sometimes with their feelings entirely, the positives as well. A counsellor can be a friendly companion to support you explore loss so that you don’t feel completely drowned by it.
On the other hand, if you have been stuck in loss orientation for a while and feel the need to get up and go (such as pressure from family or from work), but haven’t found that motivation, counselling can help you explore the barriers.
My general approach is person-centred with a goal of helping you identify what the mismatch is between where you currently are and where you want to be. I believe that once we truly understand and accept the difference, we can begin to figure out how to bridge the gap.
Some people use prescription drugs to manage their health and may struggle with their side effects or find withdrawing from them difficult. Whilst it is important to follow medically qualified advice on the correct steps to take, I can also offer you additional therapeutic support to help you cope with these challenges.
The Process
In the first session, I’ll explain how I counsel and you’ll explain what is going on for you. After experiencing my way of working, you can choose whether to continue working with me. Weekly sessions are generally recommended but I also offer fortnightly sessions. Some people benefit from one single session or several, that is up to you.
Remote Sessions
(50 minutes at £60)
Counselling on Zoom or telephone is available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (9am-5.30pm).
See my latest availability and book directly here.Walk & Talk Sessions
(50 minutes at £60)
Counselling during a walk through Rouken Glen Park are available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (9am-5.30pm).
If you feel stuck, whether through anxiety, loss or some unknown, these Walk & Talk sessions are a gentle opportunity to get outside and allow physical movement to shift you. For some, direct eye contact might be off-putting and walking side-by-side as you talk about what’s going on for you might be more comfortable.
Rather than meeting in an unknown closed room, you may prefer a neutral shared space, perhaps something different from your usual day-to-day environment. Walking and being in nature in general is seen to reduce stress levels and can help with sleep difficulties.
You might enjoy being outdoors or feel drawn to it if you’ve spent a lot of time indoors. Metaphors from nature may also help you articulate your internal world, e.g. feeling uprooted, or waiting for renewal. The pace of walking is up to you, we can sit at any point, whether just on the ground or at a bench, or we can speed up if you feel compelled to. Inviting your body to channel what you’re feeling inside can be cathartic.
Rouken Glen Park offers different spaces – wide open fields, shade in the wooded areas, moments of reflection by the waterfalls or the pond. Different routes can be picked depending on your preferences on the day and the weather.
In-Person Sessions
(50 minutes at £60)
Room 1
Counselling in-person is available at The Greenbank Rooms in Clarkston on Mondays and Tuesdays (9am – 5.30pm). This is close to public transport and there is free or cheap parking nearby. Please note that these rooms do require stair access. If you need more accessible rooms, please contact me directly.
See my latest availability and book directly here.Notice Period
If for any reason a session is cancelled, we each aim to give each other at least 3 days’ notice for In-Person sessions and 24 hours’ notice for Zoom sessions. In-Person sessions require more notice due to the cancellation terms on the room booking. You are welcome to switch to a Zoom booking if needed for more flexibility. If you cancel with the less than required notice, the deposit will be taken as payment.