What is Counselling & Psychotherapy about and is it for me?

Hello. I'm Thom Fairclough and I am a qualified and experienced psychotherapist/counsellor. This site is an introduction to myself and what services I offer. I hope that it answers all your questions and hope that if you have any further questions, then you will not hesitate to contact me.

Counselling and psychotherapy are  not a sign that you are 'failing' or 'weak' in any way. On the contrary in fact, it can be hard work and is in no way an 'easy option'. By visiting this site, you have already probably recognised an area of your life where you feel you would like more insight and understanding, or perhaps areas where you would like to develop personally. By doing this, you have made the first step towards achieving a more 'balanced' sense of wellbeing.

Therapy can be life changing, not only for you but for those around you. Indeed as a result, you may find that not only can you resolve current or past issues, but that you can deal with new challenges more effectively as well as gaining a higher sense of self-awareness, leading you to live a more fulfilling life.

Counselling/psychotherapy is confidential, led at your pace and will be re-assessed at regular intervals to ensure that you are getting what you need. Therapy is usually on a weekly basis, but this is flexible as is the number of sessions you may require. Some people require several sessions, whereas some require substantially longer, depending on the nature of the problem, in which case this becomes a longer-term commitment to psychotherapy.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes long, but sometimes longer sessions may be beneficial, so I offer longer sessions in extra fifteen minute slots, charged on a pro rata basis (for instance £10 per extra 15 minutes).

What I offer:

One-to-one personal therapy to people who are experiencing difficulties or confusion in their lives. These can range from anxiety, depression, trauma, sexuality and gender issues, bullying, death/loss, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse, abortion, miscarriage, death of a child, low self-esteem and disability. You may be encountering a crisis that you feel unable to cope with at the moment, perhaps a divorce, death or a life event that has left you with feelings of confusion or anxiety. I do not work with couples but do work regularly on an individual basis with people with relationship issues. I do have extensive training, knowledge and experience with childhood sexual abuse and rape, both of females and males.

I offer a FREE initial consulation which will last approximately 30 minutes and no longer than 50 minutes. This is a time where we look at what the problem/s may be, what we can do about this, whether we can work together and both our availability.

Please note: I do not have a waiting room. To avoid being sat in your car, please arrive as close to your appointment time as possible. Otherwise, there are cafe's, shopping and a park within walking distance.

After initially being trained as an 'Integrative Therapist', a large proportion of my subsequent training has been in 'Existential Psychotherapy', therefore I will pay particular attention to how we interact, how this has an impact on your way of being in the world and how the 'therapeutic relationship' between us develops. It is important to be aware that Existential Psychotherapists do not view you as 'ill' or pathologise you in any way. They do not 'do things to you' to help you 'get well', but believe that we all 'creatively adapt' as a result of our experiences. So I will work with you in exploring why you adapted in a certain way and how we can 'creatively adjust' again and find the right solutions for you.

I have also had substantial training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (C.B.T.) and sometimes use these techniques either purely or alongside other methods, such as Gestalt psychotherapy or Rogerian counselling.

For your safety and security, I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists. As such I am bound by their 'code of ethics' and am subject to their complaints procedure. I am also required to be in regular liaison with a clinical supervisor to ensure ethical practice. www.bacp.co.uk (please see link page)

I am also bound by the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists 'Code of Ethics' to offer only the required number of sessions that will help you resolve your issues and not to continue therapy when it is no longer thought beneficial. However, you are able to stay in therapy for as long as you feel it is helping you.

I appreciate that you probably have commitments to either work or family and for this reason I do offer evening sessions. I do NOT make an extra charge for this, however due to high demand, sometimes I only have only limited appointments at these times.

balancedlifestyles@hotmail.co.uk

info@balancedlifestyles.co.uk