Counselling can help people who are experiencing a wide range of difficulties. It helps you to make sense of what is happening to you when you are undergoing challenging life situations or when your thoughts and feelings seem overwhelming or distressing.

Some specific problems which counselling may help with include:

• Relationship difficulties
• Sexual issues
• Stress and depression
• Anxiety (panic attacks)
• Confidence, Self-esteem
• Anger management
• Phobias
• Bereavement
• Childhood trauma or abuse
• O.C.D
• Alcohol or drug dependency
• Domestic violence
• Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD)

What can I expect?

When you first come into counselling you may be unsure of what to expect. The counsellor will provide you with the time and space, in a non-judgemental, friendly atmosphere to talk about your difficulties and how you think they are affecting your life. Your counsellor will not prescribe medication, if this is thought necessary you will be referred to your GP. Each session will last up to 50 minutes and will be at a set time and place on a weekly basis, where we will focus on exploring and understanding the difficulties you are facing, and find ways to deal with them in a positive way. We want you to be successful in improving your quality of life.

What happens next?

If you would like to talk to a counsellor. Or would like more information, please call 07985 406365 leaving your name and telephone number. You will then be contacted by a counsellor to arrange a meeting at a time suitable for you to talk about the difficulties you are facing and to discuss the best way forward. This is a fee paying service and the cost of your sessions will be negotiated depending on your individual circumstances with your counsellor. If after the initial assessment we think that the service is not right for you, then we may be able to suggest other forms of help, or refer you back to your GP with some recommendations.

Confidentiality

All our counsellors work strictly within the BACP Professional and ethical frameworks and therefore receive regular clinical supervision, where your identity will remain confidential. The information that you give in your sessions will remain confidential between yourself and your counsellor. No information will be passed to anyone without your consent, unless the counsellor is of the opinion that you are at risk of endangering yourself or others. Should such a situation arise, this will be discussed, where possible, with you first.

About our counsellor

Our counsellor, Vikki, has 10 years’ experience, much of which has been within a local GP’s practice. She has also worked with Bromley Alcohol Service for part of this time where she worked predominantly with drug/alcohol addiction, and has vast experience working with personality disorders, depression and anxiety, and survivors of sexual abuse. Vikki holds a diploma in developmental psychology and a post graduate diploma in therapeutic counselling from Greenwich University and is currently studying for her masters degree. She also holds numerous other certificates/diplomas including integrative counselling, depression management, compulsive behavioural disorders, P.T.S.D, drug and alcohol counselling, rational emotive therapy, child protection training and eating disorders.