Jim Robinson Information about my services for Individual Counselling & Psychotherapy

Would counselling or therapy help?

The counselling and therapy I provide can help with depression, anxiety, stress, anger, past abuse, trauma, addictions, compulsions, eating disorders, grief & bereavement, personal development, loss of meaning, relationship difficulties and so on.

I have seen many people over the years, both for short term counselling and longer term psychotherapy. But, no matter how good the therapist, there are still no guarantees of success in this work, this needs the relationship to work, so that there is a joint commitment to investigate 'what is'. Whether working in a shorter or a longer term, all the outcome studies for the effectiveness of therapy show that what’s important is the quality of therapeutic relationship. If trust and respect develops between client and therapist, then progress is possible.

It is through an increase in awareness, often of our avoided or pushed aside feelings, or of our vague unformed thoughts, that we start to understand ourselves. Our natural process of integration, like the healing force of our bodies, can then start to work. Heart, head and body when working together can increasingly help us heal and resolve our internal conflicts.

In my experience though, just as a minimum, having time and space to give attention to ourselves and what is going on in our lives, is always helpful.

How to choose a therapist?

This can be a daunting task and it can be really helpful to try out a few different people, to give yourself choice. Firstly, it is like choosing anybody else in your life to relate to, we have to trust our intuition and gut sense that this is someone who we can relate to. Secondly, from the head, it is about what you want from therapy and choosing who you think can supply that the best. Only you can be the 'expert' on yourself, so keep in mind your need and right to be treated with respect and always bear in mind that you are the client. Counselling and therapy are not a medicalised proceedures in which you have no power. Your power is an essential part of the process, in terms of your choices and committment.

It is your life, you have survived the best way you could, and there is no blame or judgement in that, although it make take you time to realise this. But also, over time, only you can know about you, what your experience is and what you need. For me, the therapist’s first step is to support and help you to become more aware of yourself and what your relationship to the world is.

What happens in a session?

Sessions take place at my house, various appointment times are available during the day and evening. I like to work weekly, especially to start with.

The first session is for both of us to make an assessment about whether or not to proceed further. Do you want to work with me? I am the right person to work with you? If we choose to continue we need to decide on what basis to do so, and of some idea of our aim, and approach.

At the beginning most people talk about their concerns and current experience, their wishes and expectations. Often, being worried about what is happening to us is an urgent issue and starting to understanding that we are not "mad" or "bad" can be a real relief in itself.

How long will it take?

This is an impossible question to answer; it is after all a journey of discovering what is unknown. There are certain difficulties such as unacknowledged grief, which can sometimes be worked through quite quickly, over a period of a few weeks. Those issues connected with lifelong entrenched habitual ways of being, often need a long time. And there are all the stages in between. The journey takes as long as it takes to get where you want to get to. No ‘one size fits all’ approach allows for the fact that everyone is different, with different needs and wishes and goals.

How much does it cost?

I charge £40 for 60 minutes for individuals and £60 for 75 minutes for couples.

Confidentiality & Codes of Ethics

I am committed to upholding the BACP and UKCP codes of ethics. These include many aspects of my responsibilities towards my clients including maintaining strict confidentiality, in all but the most extreme situations. You are most welcome to look up these codes via the links in the "Links" page.

Back to top