bernice sorensen : therapy

Listening Cures | Bernice Sorensen | Why Therapy?

Why Therapy?
There are many reasons for seeking therapy. A person may be feeling upset or distressed, have problems with thoughts and feelings or with relationships with others. If feelings such as grief, anxiety, anger or shame are bottled up, they can become very intense and disturbing.

Therapy with a person who neither judges nor tells you what to do enables you to explore in depth various aspects of your life and your feelings that is rarely possible with family or friends. Often current difficulties are rooted in the past, so therapy may involve both present and past relationships. This is not always easy but it will increase understanding and enable things to be seen more clearly. Within the therapy relationship trust and safety is built, which leads a person to make life changes whilst accepting those elements of life which cannot be changed and choosing new attitudes to these restraints.

Some clients see therapy as a means of deepening their understanding of themselves and their life experience. Many people are discontent with their lives, perhaps finding it hard to live up to social expectations and demands made by others. Counselling and psychotherapy does not offer the answers but allows the personal space to explore deeper issues and a search for meaning.

How does therapy work?
Whilst different therapists work in a variety of ways I would describe my approach as fundamentally relational. For me: therapy works because the therapeutic relationship is a mirror to the way a person engages or relates to people with whom they live, work and meet. This is an important focus in the sessions alongside the perceived ‘problem’.

As a therapist I reflect the process (the way we experience each other) of our encounter in the therapy relationship and through dialogue we can explore what is happening between us. In this way people become more in touch with the way they see themselves and how others see them. Whilst this can be uncomfortable, particularly as many people have very negative views of themselves, these negative feeling are not necessarily experienced by others. A good therapeutic relationship aims to ‘make positive change’ so many people find therapy not only challenging but also very empowering and confirming.

What Next?
If you think therapy may be useful to you please ring or email for an appointment. If I am working I will return your call as soon as possible, or email. You will be offered an initial meeting with no obligation to continue. In this session we can both find out more about each other, and explore the best way to approach your difficulties. You will then be able to decide whether therapy is right for you, and whether we can work effectively together. Sessions are usually weekly for 50 minutes, on the same day and time, unless shift work is involved. Skype and telephone counselling is also available. Practical considerations, such as confidentiality, duration, fees etc. will be discussed at our initial session.

 

Bernice Sorensen, Spindleberry, North Road, Chideock, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6LE 01297 489216

 

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