Counselling & Psychotherapy - Kate Juggins

Why see a therapist?......


When we have a problem it's natural to want to talk about it but it can sometimes be hard to know who we might share our problem with. Sometimes we don't feel comfortable speaking to family or friends and it's not that easy for those closest to us to be able to help. We might not know what to say to them or worry about what might happen if trying to talk goes wrong. Sharing our thoughts, feelings and experiences with a professionally qualified therapist in a safe and confidential environment can give us the support that we need.


More about Counselling.....


All approaches to counselling and psychotherapy emphasise the importance and quality of the relationship between therapist and client. Successful therapy involves the systematic use of this relationship to produce changes in thinking, feelings and behaviour. That is why it is so important that you find the counsellor who feels right for you.


My Background and Philosophy.....


I trained for three years to become a counsellor and a further three years to qualify as a psychotherapist. At that point I also became a practitioner member of the UKCP. With an additional year's training I qualified as a supervisor of clinical practice for other therapists.

I undertook my own personal therapy throughout training and learned a great deal about the way in which I related to others and made sense of the world. I realised that, from a very early age, I had been afraid of letting people know what I really felt or thought. Rather than risk upsetting others, I had hidden my feelings away. Eventually I'd even learnt to hide them from myself too. Although this had been a good coping strategy when I was young, as an adult, my actions made meaningful relationships virtually impossible. I was too afraid to share my "true" self with anyone.

Being in relationship with a counsellor who was empathic and unconditionally accepting had a profound impact on me. As I became more self accepting, so my relationship with others became more fulfilling and meaningful. I realised I could make healthier choices about my life and felt more autonomous. Rather than feeling afraid of life, I became ready to enjoy it to its full potential.

I have personal knowledge of what can be achieved in a relationship where I feel understood, respected, and able trust the other person. This is what I want my clients to experience in their turn. Research has shown that, rather than the therapist's theoretical approach, it is the quality of the working relationship between therapist and client that is paramount in determining the effectiveness of therapy.


Short Term or Long Term?.....


Counselling can vary in length. Some clients chose to focus on a specific issue for a short period only; others have deeper issues that need a longer-term focus. I want you to feel comfortable if your choice is to continue into longer-term, as I understand that counselling is a commitment in terms of both time and money.

Should we agree to continue to work together subsequent to our assessment meeting, I will offer you a further 6 sessions. After this we can then review our agreement to determine whether counselling feels beneficial to you and, importantly, that you feel comfortable working with me. At each stage of our meeting you should have enough information to be able to make a considered choice as to your needs.

You should know that I strictly adhere to the ethical requirement of the UKCP not to prolong therapy for longer than is necessary.


About Psychotherapy.....


The question is often asked as to whether counselling is any different to psychotherapy. My own belief, having trained and qualified both as a counsellor and a psychotherapist, is that the two processes have some philosophy in common and bring about change through the effective use of relationship between therapist and client.

Psychotherapy, which has a more protracted quality than counselling, offers a much wider understanding of ourselves and our way of relating in the world. Its extended nature affords us a real opportunity to understand how our earliest relationships and family patterns shape our behaviour in adulthood. With deepened self-insight our old thought and behaviour patterns lose their potency and we discover we have the potential to live life more authentically.

A benefit to this will be seen in our increased sense of ease with ourselves and with others. When we have a better understanding of the impact of our past in our present, and can then accept ourselves for who we truly are, intimate relationships no longer present a threat but are welcomed as a source of personal enrichment.


What to Look for in a Therapist.....


Counselling and psychotherapy training varies in length and depth. For this reason it is important to check a therapist's professional qualifications i.e.

number of years of training and experience

issues they have experience of working with

fees charged

length of the sessions

It is also important to know whether they too have experienced their own in-depth personal therapy. You should ask whether they belong to a recognised governing body that has a complaints and standards procedure (such as BACP, UKCP, etc.). Please feel free to ask me about my professional credentials at any time.