Being in therapy is a bit like doing a very big jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are yours, but although you do not have a clear idea of the picture that the puzzle makes, I believe that you know what it is or what you want it to be. You certainly know more about this than I do. What I know is how jigsaw puzzles sometimes fit together and where the pieces are likely to connect. So what we do here is a cooperative effort, where we look at the pieces and see how they may fit together, except the pieces are your thoughts and feelings about what you hope and fear and desire.
– Emmy van Deurzen
Being in therapy is a bit like doing a very big jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are yours, but although you do not have a clear idea of the picture that the puzzle makes, I believe that you know what it is or what you want it to be. You certainly know more about this than I do. What I know is how jigsaw puzzles sometimes fit together and where the pieces are likely to connect. So what we do here is a cooperative effort, where we look at the pieces and see how they may fit together, except the pieces are your thoughts and feelings about what you hope and fear and desire.What Is Counselling?
Counselling is a process of exploring alternatives, finding new meaning, and discovering new ways of looking at your life. It offers a confidential space to identify your own resources, build on them, and work through your issues piece by piece — much like completing a jigsaw puzzle. By taking the time to sit with a counsellor and talk through your concerns, you can begin to make sense of where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there.
What Counselling Can Help You Achieve
- Solutions — practical ways forward for the issues troubling you
- Clarity — making sense of where you are and where you want to be
- Satisfaction — feeling more complete and fulfilled in daily life
- Self-understanding — recognising your own resources and how to build on them
My Approach to Therapy
I see things as much as possible from your perspective, and I think of therapy as a process that adapts to the needs of the people involved. Rather than relying on a single method, I draw on a variety of therapeutic approaches depending on what’s most useful to you. This can include:
- Your personal history and upbringing — understanding how your past shapes your present
- Patterns of thinking — exploring how your thoughts affect the way you feel
- What happens in the room — reflecting on moment-to-moment experiences in our sessions together and what they might mean
The Counselling Relationship
Counselling is ultimately about building a relationship with your therapist in which you feel safe enough to share your most personal concerns. This relationship rests on three commitments:
- Confidentiality — whatever you bring to therapy stays private
- Respect — your concerns are treated with care and consideration
- Progress — by talking through your problems, you find the means to move forward and live more purposefully, in a way that suits you
