Counselling is a confidential helping relationship in which clients can explore painful feelings and any difficulties which they may be experiencing. Circumstances, relationships and traumatic events can impose restrictions and make demands on us so that we lose touch with our personal strengths and the ability to direct and determine our lives.

In the face of difficulties we sometimes adopt coping strategies that cause us to repeat self defeating patterns of behaviour. People's coping strategies may be a cause of great concern to them and to those who care about them. It is not always possible to share true feelings with friends or family, and often the complexity of feelings within close relationships means it is not easy to resolve underlying anxieties.

Counselling isn't about giving advise or making judgements. It is an opportunity to look at difficulties with a supportive and unbiased companion which can lead to a greater understanding of self and circumstances, and open up the possibility of finding new ways forward.