Helping you to gain your sense of safety and connection
COUNSELLING AND THERAPY FOR INDIVIDUALS
Welcome, and thank you for visiting.
My name is Barbara Leahy. I trained and achieved my postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling at the Inter-Psyche Training Institute: Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies. I am a qualified integrative counsellor which means that I provide a range of appropriate therapies throughout my work, although my practice is drawn on and underpinned by the values of the person-centered approach.
I work with people from all walks of life and backgrounds, coming to me with a diverse range of problems. As a fully-qualified counsellor I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and abide by their code of ethics.
HOW CAN COUNSELLING HELP?
As a counsellor, I demonstrate honesty and genuineness as an essential part of my work, I understand and share feelings of another and offer complete acceptance and support of my clients; there are no conditions or judgement. I offer counselling in a safe, nurturing, confidential and non-judgmental environment so that clients can voice and explore their thoughts, feelings and emotions, along with complex experiences and personal concerns and difficulties. My aim is to facilitate and support clients to move forward, to gain their sense of safety and connection whilst increasing their capacity to regulate their emotions. I offer online via Zoom and telephone counselling only.
People come to me for help with a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Problems with addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Depression
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Anger management
Issues relating to sexuality
Difficulties at work or in retirement
Abuse
SPEAK IN CONFIDENCE
Counselling takes place in a safe space, where you can meet with someone who will listen with sensitivity and empathy - and without judgement. In the therapy space thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely and in confidence.
A PROBLEM SHARED...
Trouble with a relationship; anxiety or panic attacks; mood swings or depression - many people face difficulties in their everyday lives that can be hard to get on top of. Counselling gives us a set of tools that we can use to help gain a better understanding of what’s causing these problems - and how you can move towards managing or resolving them.
MAKE BETTER, HEALTHIER NEW CHOICES
Working together I can help you gain greater insight into the difficulties you are facing, help you understand why you act or react to them the way you do, and see how you can start to make better, heathier choices moving forward.
CONTACT ME
Feel free to contact me using the form below or by emailing leahybarbara59@gmail.com if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07903 334861 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
FEES & SESSIONS
Sessions are for 50 minutes taking place on a weekly basis and cost £45 per session. I also offer concessions for those on low income or for students. Please contact me to enquire about availability.
Initial assessment appointments last for approximately 75 minutes. Again, please contact me to enquire.
Regarding cancellation of sessions, I require 48 hours notice. If the required notice period is not adhered to, you will be charged for the missed sessions.
I accept payment by bank transfer only and also require payment within 24 hours prior to commencing with the session.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks the understanding of the problem improves and a way forward becomes clear. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.
Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.
How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people a couple of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.
Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.
My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availabity. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availabity of that free ‘slot’.
Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.
Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, and there the law requires that I notify an authority; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.
Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into counselling, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected to those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family.