Sam Clark - Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered Psychotherapist - Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist

I offer Private Counselling and Psychotherapy Services for these Issues

My Counselling and Psychotherapy Therapeutic Approaches

Gender

What to Expect during Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling and psychotherapy are both 'talking therapies' that offer people a chance to change how they feel and to live better. I won't be giving you advice or telling you what to do, because I believe that you are the expert on your life. Instead, my role is to listen to you carefully and engage you in a conversation that can help to clarify aspects of your life that may be causing you distress or confusion. My approach is conversational and collaborative. You won't experience me as a "blank wall" but I will allow for periods of silence and reflection in sessions, because talking sometimes stops us being able to think and go deeper. Silence can be uncomfortable but this is often when the most useful insights emerge.

My approach is holistic and integrative, drawing on various theories including the warmth and 'realness' of the person-centered counselling relationship, the pragmatic problem-solving focus of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (or 'CBT') and the depth of the psychodynamic therapies. I tailor therapy to fit each individual, because this is not a one-size-fits-all process. One client might wish to resolve a specific problem area in life, whilst another might wish to explore deep-set patterns, childhood trauma or entrenched behaviours. Invariably I will spend some time asking you about your family background and childhood, because I do believe that our formative relationships can shape our adult lives. I also have a special interest in Focusing - a practice that anyone can learn - which has been shown to correlate with successful therapy outcomes.

You may be anxious about what therapy entails or what you need to do in the sessions. This is entirely natural; after all, we don't usually discuss our innermost thoughts and feelings with a stranger. At its most fundamental, a therapy session is an intimate conversation or dialogue in a safe, private, confidential space, with someone who is trained to listen and reflect on what you say without judgment or expectation.

Sessions are conducted on a weekly basis and last for fifty minutes. Wherever possible they happen at the same time each week. You have to pay for your session even when you are unable to come. This is because a regular time is set aside for you. Short-term counselling usually refers to 6-12 sessions, whilst long-term or 'open-ended' counselling or therapy can last from 6 months up to 2 years or more. I will incorporate regular reviews of the therapy every couple of sessions to check that you feel we are working towards your goals, and clients are encouraged to feed back their experience of the therapy. Sessions are confidential except under exceptional circumstances, for instance, if I believe that either yourself or another person is at serious risk of harm. If, after the initial session, you feel that therapy or counselling isn't for you, or that I am not the right therapist for you, I can assist you with referral options or to find alternative sources of help or support.

Clinical Qualifications in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Additional Information