Swindon Carers Centre

COUNSELLING SERVICE

What is Counselling?

.....talking

Counselling is sometimes called 'Talking Therapy'. Telling the counsellor about your problems may help you to be clear as to exactly what is the problem. This may sound simple, but, very often, when we are having difficulties our thoughts whirl around in ever decreasing circles. By explaining it all to someone who does not know of any of the events or people involved, you may find yourself widening out your thinking again. This in itself can be helpful.

.....listening

The counsellor is trained in listening and will try to understand what you are saying and feeling, and will reflect this back to you so that you both come to understand the problem more clearly. You will not normally be given advice or opinions but will be offered an opportunity to look at your problems from several angles and decide for yourself what you would like to try to do about them. You will be helped to recognise and draw on your own strengths and resources and even perhaps discover new qualities you didn't know you had!

.....expressing feelings

Counselling is not just about thinking. It is very much about expressing feelings. How you express your feelings is very personal and we all have individual ways of doing this. Being able to share how you feel about yourself and others with the counsellor, and have your feelings heard and respected, may help you to understand why you feel the way you do.

.....working towards understanding

As you begin to understand and acknowledge your feelings you may be able to start changing patterns of behaviour which keep recurring and causing you difficulties. In order to understand your feelings you may need to look back and see where such feelings originated and how they developed. The counsellor will be ready to help you with this. Gradually you may feel more clear about yourself, your strengths, weaknesses and needs and how these influence your feelings about yourself and your relationships with people.

.....perhaps changing

The counsellor will help you think through how you might do something about your difficulties. This may be by taking actions of some kind or by changing your attitudes. You will be able to talk with the counsellor about the changes you begin to make in your life, and to reflect on any necessary adjustments.

Many Reasons For Entering Counselling

Men and women of all ages receive counselling for many different reasons. They may be feeling anxious or depressed, tense and insecure, or dissatisfied with the quality of their relationships, or puzzled about their reactions to events or people. They may be suffering bereavement or loss or struggling with traumas from the past, difficulties at work or just wanting to understand themselves more.

How Swindon Carers Centre Can Help

Counselling sessions for carers are held at Swindon Counselling Service, 23 Bath Road, Old Town, Swindon. The number of sessions you have with the counsellor depends on the issues you wish to address. You and the counsellor will agree what is appropriate for you. The counselling service is free of charge. The Swindon Carers Centre pays the counsellor with a grant we have received, specifically to provide this service.

For more information and to discuss this service in more detail, please contact the Carers Centre on 01793 531133.