| What
is Psychotherapy?
|
 |
Psychotherapy
is a way of helping people to overcome emotional, behavioural
and relationship difficulties by talking, thinking
and sharing feelings with a trained therapist. The aim
is to change destructive patterns into constructive life-enhancing
ones.
| What
is Gestalt?
|
|
Gestalt is
both an approach to therapy and a philosophy that grounds you
in your own experience. Unlike some other forms of therapy gestalt,
values exploring experience over finding meaning, because it is
through having new experiences that lasting change occurs
Gestalt is
centred in the present and as such bypasses the usual mind games
- interpreting, justifying, fantasizing, denying - putting
you in direct contact with your body and feelings.. By helping
you to respond more flexibly - in the present- to life's
changes and challenges, Gestalt enables you to be yourself and
not someone's idea of who you should be:
| The
Principles of Gestalt Therapy |
 Looks
at the whole person - body, mind and spirit |
| Uses
an experimental approach to psychotherapy |
| Deals
with the present |
| Encourages
self-awareness & Personal Responsibility |
| The
Objectives of the Gestalt Therapist |
| To
provide a safe, non-judgmental environment in which
you can express your feelings, fears, anxieties, worries,
without embarrassment or fear. |
| discover
and explore your emotional, cognitive and physical responses
to the situation(s) discussed . |
| find
out your usual way of dealing with recurring situations with
the aim of devising new patterns of response that will give
you more satisfying results |
| discover
how events from the past may still be impacting on the present
and work to change this. |
| create
within you the power and courage to make satisfying choices.
Giving you the confidence that you can cope with whatever
happens. |
| What
issues may be addressed?
|
|
Depression,
grief, anxiety, eating difficulties, chronic pain, physical difficulties
or traumatic events are all areas which may be addressed.
Personality issues such as low self -esteem or anger or life changes
and personal development/awareness and spiritual issues may also
be assisted. If unsure if you problem can be addressed please
call and ask
| What
happens in the first meeting?
|
|
Many people are anxious
at their first appointment. This appointment is designed to gain
an overview of your difficulties, how life is for you, how it
was in the past and what you want from the sessions. You do not
have to discuss anything you do not want. However, it is important
that you are as open as possible. At the end of the session the
best way forward will be discussed.
| What
will happen within the session?
|
|
The therapist
will listen carefully, try to understand and help you make sense
of your difficulties. Their is no "magic cure"
for your problems. The therapist will take responsibility for
working jointly with you to solve your issues and find a better
way for you to go forward with your life.
| Who
is Psychotherapy for?
|
|
Unfortunately, prejudice
about emotional distress may stop people from using talking treatments,
which they would benefit from. Many people see it as a sign of
weakness or inadequacy to seek help in this way. The truth is
very different; facing one's difficulties is a strength not a
weakness, as is finding better ways of living.
| How
long will I need to see a therapist?
|
|
This may be for one
appointment, it may be for a few sessions or be ongoing - depending
upon what you and the therapist decide between you.
| Are
the sessions confidential?
|
|
Yes, except all therapists
require supervision with a senior practitioner. The only other
time confidentiality is broken is if serious and harmful risks
are involved. This will be discussed with you. Please feel free
to ask questions about any concerns.
| Differences
between Counselling & Psychotherapy
|
|
Counselling
tends to focus on specific life problems or areas in your life
you maybe finding difficult - for example bereavement. Although
it does deal with many of the same issues as counselling, psychotherapy
works at a much deeper level where more deep-seated personal issues
are involved.
| Choosing
between Counselling and Psychotherapy
|
|
If you are
unsure which therapy is best suited to your particular problem
we can easily arrange a free consultation with a counsellor. This
will give you the opportunity for you to talk confidentially about
your problem and also let the counsellor assess the best therapy
for you.
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