Counselling

BACP - accredited

PCT (Person-Centred Therapy)

Welcome Paul, our new counsellor!

A problem shared is a problem halved.

ELMHC has added Counselling to the range of services it offers!

We asked Paul, our counsellor, to tell us about what he offers. This is what he said:

Counselling is a powerful and life changing form of therapy, where a trained and accredited professional helps individuals and couples to address any personal and emotional challenges that they may be experiencing. The trained professional is referred to as a counsellor or therapist. A working and trusting relationship is formed, and the counsellor/therapist provides a confidential and safe space for clients to explore thoughts, feelings and troublesome habits, and identify their origins, and any influences on them. Once this deeper understanding of things is achieved, the individual is able to gain more control over them and bring about change.

This increased understanding of 'self', often uncovers the reason (and answers the 'why' question about why somebody feels the way they do). This all takes place in a judgement-free and confidential space.

It is a process of working together to explore and understand the depths and origins of challenges to bring about positive change.

There is no standardised counselling template - each client and their challenges are unique. Therefore, various tools and methods should be used to fit the clients specific needs and challenges.

How can counselling help you?

Uncovering your challenges, healing the past, helping you live a better life.

Counselling can help in the following situations, among many others:

Difficult life events like bereavement, illness and relationship breakdowns
Stresses of work or everyday life
Anxiety issues and panic attacks
Difficult emotions like low self-esteem, anger, shame etc
Sexual identity
Relationship challenges
Trauma
Sexual problems

Sometimes clients simply need a private and confidential space to explore themselves and their general situation to gain deeper insight into what is going on.

In summary, counselling offers the space to talk about whatever is bothering you. It can help you to uncover root causes and contributing factors that may not be apparent or even in your awareness.

If you want to know more or you wish to ask any questions about counselling, just click here to contact Paul to organise a complimentary discussion.

More about Paul

Hi, I'm Paul (he/him). I'm a gay man, and I am a fully accredited counsellor, with hundreds of hours of client experience.

Anyone can say they are a counsellor. I am a member of the only counsellor accreditation body in the UK (BACP). This means that I have undertaken studies, training and assessments and meet the specific membership criteria which ensures quality. I have a degree in counselling and therapy and am currently undertaking further study at BA level. Before going further, I would like to stress the importance of knowledge and training, and that whoever you work with, please ensure you get the support you deserve by working with an accredited and trained counsellor.

I used to work in the corporate world and decided to leave that behind me when I decided life was too short, and I wanted to follow my passion of helping people.

Fastforward several years (and several years of intense study and assignment writing!) and here I am!

I have recently been presenting at community events around the world about my own experiences with shame, judgement, being an introvert, etc and coming through the other side, and helping others by bringing together my own experiences and my training.

So, I have the training, skills and experience, but I also know that it is important that we get on and you trust me. I am very aware that if you contact me, it will be because you have decided that you need help and support. This is something that is very important to me, and I like to have an initial discussion to discuss your challenges, and for you to get to know me. I will also ensure that I feel qualified to assist. This is nothing to worry about. Having had counselling myself in the past, I know how important it is to get the correct support, so in the event that I feel that I have insufficient skills/training, I will be up front and tell you. In this event, I undertake to help you find someone who may be better placed than me to assist you.

Want to learn more?