Golden Leaf Counselling Services

About Counselling in General…

NB  During the Covid 19 outbreak, Golden Leaf Counselling is currently functioning as normal, but there are limitations on how many face to face sessions that I can offer during lockdown periods. These are restricted to emergency sessions and sessions that are spaced out for safety reasons.  If however you would prefer a telephone or skype session at any time , please let me know.  Some walking sessions may also be available.  See also my Blog page for some general advice if you are feeling anxious.

Counselling is about creating a safe space for you to talk and to be heard…..it’s two (or 3 in a couples session)  people working together on issues that you, the client bring to the session (usually 50-60  minutes long), and it has a focus on what you can change to feel in more control of your life. It’s bringing a perspective from OUTSIDE of your situation, from someone not part of your usual relationships.

What’s unique to Golden Leaf?

Golden Leaf looks at your life with you as something that grows and changes and has seasons –  What worked for you years or even weeks ago may not be working for you now.   Sometimes it helps to have the input of someone outside your situation…this can help you to make the changes that you feel you need, to make your life more meaningful and more satisfying.
Looking at your current problem in context to the past and what you want in the future, can  help you to see what patterns you want to keep and which ones you want to get rid of.  This can restore hope to a difficult situation and give you some direction.

You also work with a counsellor who is qualified to Masters level  in Integrative (Existential) Counselling, (including Person Centred, Psychodynamic and CBT approaches) and who teaches  Counselling to university level (currently an Associate Lecturer at the Existential Academy in London). From 2020 I am also PFOA (Police Fire Arms Officers Association)  registered.

The work is carried out in accordance with the BACP code of ethics, and by a counsellor with full personal indemnity insurance.  See: http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/

Specialisms  

Couples Work (Total of 60 hours of training and 10 years of experience)

Male Identity – (male friendly approach)

Addictions and Dependencies (especially Drug and Alcohol related) ;
Relationship issues (singles, couples or family problems) ;
Bereavement and Loss

Dementia Support

Special interests include:    Life path Choices and Decisions;  Mentoring; Dream work where appropriate (Jungian type Dream analysis) Dementia Support

Currently Studying:  Cultural/Religious Identity:  modern challenges

Golden Leaf offers you:

Counselling sessions of 55 minutes

COVID 19 UPDATE:

Free 15  minute initial session

We understand that many are anxious about finances during this difficult time and for the foreseeable future, therefore we are pleased to announce:

Solo Sessions usually cost £50 for first session:  (the next 3 if booked in a block and paid up front are discounted).

Couples sessions:  £70 for first couples session:  (the next 3 are discounted if booked in a block and paid for in advance.)

(There are also concessions available for unwaged, proven financial hardship, and full time students)

I commit to let you know as far as possible in advance if I need to cancel…

What Golden Leaf requires of you:

• to pay on the day or in advance
• to let me know in good time if you need to cancel – ( if you don’t let me know you need to cancel with at least 24 hours notice,  we regret that the fee is usually charged in fulI)

(Full contract details available on request)

Golden Leaf counsels from a belief system that mankind has a spiritual dimension as well as a physical one… working  with the whole person, rather than with just the one issue that someone may present with.  I incorporate an Existential outlook into my Person Centred counselling base, along with Gestalt and Behavioural working tools.

The Existential approach is more about the journey than the destination…if you think this sounds interesting ask for more details when you contact me.

Since the past continually impacts on the present, I find that Freudian psychodynamic processes are useful for unravelling complex past influences.

I work with the beliefs of each client on an individual basis. I respect other belief systems (my own background is Christian) and have spent time studying other ways of faith. I meditate, practice yoga, have Jewish and Muslim friends, and believe in the use of other techniques and disciplines, such as acupuncture,  reflexology, or herbology. The importance of  paying attention to diet, sleep and exercise needs to be mentioned too.

I also use dream work and art and music  as appropriate and in agreement with you, the client, within my counselling sessions.

Carl Jung said of dreams (1939) in “Modern Man in Search of a Soul”:
The dream gives a true picture of the subjective state, while the conscious mind denies that this state exists, or recognizes it only grudgingly (p. 5).
He also comments:
It is the way of dreams to give us more than we ask (p. 5).

Making Meaning:  Many believe that personal beliefs are at the root of every meaningful action.

Golden Leaf believes that we all operate from a personal value system that guides our actions and our meanings.  We are not always aware what this value system is – it may have been passed on to us through family or other influences – but it is helpful to know what your own values are.  Your values help shape your thinking and your decisions.

“The paradox of faith is that we can never be certain of anything but we have to act as if it is so, in full knowledge that it may not be.”
(Van Deurzen & Adams, 2011: 152).

“Faith is the susbtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:  1, KJV Bible).