David Wakely, M.A. UKCP reg.
Counselling and psychotherapy

On this page, you will find some basic information about counselling and psychotherapy.

What happens in counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling and psychotherapy are processes of talking over difficult and sensitive issues in a confidential setting with a trained professional therapist or counsellor.

The aim of the process is to promote change, although the nature of this change will vary from person to person, depending on the issues they bring, the circumstances of their lives and their goals and aspirations. Defining the aim of the process is one of the first things that the counsellor and the client will do together.

The role of the counsellor or therapist is to give each person the kind of support which is suited to their needs.

Some people will have one specific issue that they want to work on and a clear idea of the resolution they want to aim for - a person with an addiction, for example, might have a definite goal of reducing or stopping their behaviour. The counsellor might use a practical, solution-focussed approach in such cases.

Other people might bring problems which do not have such a clear resolution - people who are faced with life-changing choices, for example, or who are coming to terms with a loss in their lives, or who have issues which are longstanding and deep-seated. In these cases, the counsellor will work to support processes of exploration, clarification, self-understanding or acceptance.

What are the differences between counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling and psychotherapy are both ways of working on the psychological and behavioural dimensions of personal problems. Although they can employ very similar methods, it is generally accepted that there are some differences.

Counselling may be:

short-term or time-limited

focussed on specific problems

oriented towards solutions or gaining clarity and self-understanding

more pro-active in its approach

centred on exploring thoughts and emotions

Psychotherapy is often:

longer-term or open-ended

focussed on a more global range of concerns

more exploratory in its approach

oriented towards self-understanding and the enhancement of personal qualities such as autonomy and individuation; and developing fulfilling relationships with ourselves, with others and with our environment.
It often works on the level of unconscious thinking, imagination, dreams etc. and the relationship that develops between the therapist and the client is often a focus for exploration.

Making contact

If you are interested in making an initial appointment or if you have any questions about the service I offer, you can email me or phone me on 078 495 19 277.

The first meeting is an opportunity to talk over the issues and for you to decide if you would like to work with me. It does not commit you to anything further and I will usually suggest that you take a couple of days to think it over.

I normally contract for a fixed number of sessions at first, typically between four and six. This allows us a reasonable period of time to see if the process is helpful to you. We review progress on the last session and, if required, may decide to continue for a longer period.

Meetings are generally weekly, but this frequency can be altered if necessary.