Frequently Asked Questions
We explore what concerns or difficulties you have that are impacting on your life. You may have had a recent life change that has caused you distress or perhaps a number of problems have been building for a long time. Often it can be ‘the last straw’ that brings us to the point of being overwhelmed. Some people come in due to feeling low and anxious about life in general. There may be physical health symptoms causing concern – not sleeping, being unable to concentrate, tension or headaches.
Contrary to TV shows, therapy doesn’t always focus on your childhood! Some clients recognise that things in their early life do impact on their relationships as adults or unhealthy patterns have developed. Some clients want to focus on what’s going on now, to find solutions to current difficulties or look at future goals.
Your therapist will explore with you what therapy approaches could be most helpful so you can agree a plan of treatment. You may want to go away and think about what you’ve talked about. There is no obligation to commit to anything immediately.
Whatever is talked about in the therapy room is kept confidential between you and your therapist apart from exceptional circumstances to do with safety and criminal activity. This is to keep everyone safe. Confidentiality is a major reason people open up and talk about sensitive things in the therapy room. Holding on to feelings of guilt and shame is a cause of emotional distress.
Our contract for therapy goes through these situations in more detail eg benefitting from the proceeds of crime such as illegal drugs, anything linked to terrorist activity, current or historic abuse towards a child or vulnerable adult.
Many people come to therapy because they feel as if their life isn’t worth living or they can’t see any hope for the future. It’s very important to talk about these thoughts and feelings which are often scary. Having thoughts of not wanting to live can be different between having made a decision to end your life. However both are signs of extreme distress. It can often get to the point where not existing and ending life feels like the right thing to do, the only option or the ‘right’ choice. We have worked with many people who have felt despair and have come out of this with appropriate support and treatment to move their life forward. Talking about suicide and self harm doesn’t make it more likely to happen, it makes it less likely to be acted on.
If you or someone you care for is saying they have thoughts of harming themselves at some point in the future, please make an urgent appointment with a GP or health professional. If these feelings and thoughts are overwhelming and you believe actual harm is likely to happen, please go to your nearest A&E unit or ring 999 for emergency help. If you are concerned about someone else’s safety, you can make this call on behalf of someone in crisis.
Support from the Samaritans for everyone
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Support for younger people/friends and parents
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/suicidal-feelings/
Make an Appointment
If you have any questions or would like to chat to us, you can contact us here.
