Counselling

Counselling is the broad term for talking therapies which aim to help you to explore your issues in a safe environment and with the support of a therapist. You can use counselling to reflect on losses, to come to terms with change, to try to resolve conflicts in yourself or with others, to overcome difficulties, to face fears and to make improvements in your life. You may be coming to counselling having struggled with your issues for some time before seeking professional help, perhaps having struggled to resolve matters yourself or with the help of friends or loved ones. Alternatively, counselling may be your first opportunity to talk with someone because you have felt unable to share your concerns with those closest to you. With the help of a counsellor you trust, you may be able to develop alternative perspectives, make sense of your difficulties and find more useful ways forward in your life.

What does a counsellor do?

Family receiving counselling session with Martin Cox Msc., Therapist in LondonA counsellor is a therapist who has been trained to provide you with the kind of space needed to explore your difficulties without feeling rushed or judged. A counsellor can help you make sense of your concerns and bring some clarity to your situation before assisting you to make the changes you require.

In the transparent and honest relationship built with your counsellor you will be encouraged to share your thoughts and feelings, not only about your difficulties but also about the counselling process itself. Your counsellor’s task is to help you find your way rather than forcing you to see things from their perspective or to lead you in a certain direction.

Types of Counselling

There are many different types of of counselling informed by different theoretical concepts. These include those derived from Freudian ideas, such as psychoanalytic and psychodynamic counselling in which the unconscious sources of issues are explored both through examination of early childhood experiences and through the therapeutic relationship itself. Other approaches such as person-centred counselling aim to provide the optimum conditions for the client to find their own way through their difficulties. Often, but not always, these are longer term approaches with an expectation that clients will be in therapy for months or years on a weekly or even more frequent basis.

Systemic counselling focuses on the relationships between people and examines patterns of interactions in order to help clients develop alternative perspectives and behaviours. Because of the relational nature of Systemic therapy it is often used with couples and families. It is often relatively short term and takes place on a less frequent basis.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the interaction between thoughts, behaviours and feelings, helping clients to challenge unhelpful, unrealistic thoughts and change behaviours in a collaborative relationship with the therapist. Sessions are usually quite structured and between-session tasks help the client to reinforce learning and test beliefs. CBT therapy usually focuses on very specific issues and is frequently short-term in nature, with sessions often taking place weekly.

Counselling at Achieving Balance

After an initial telephone consultation, we will meet to discuss your concerns in more depth and to give you an opportunity to ask questions about my practice. We can then agree a suitable way forward, including session frequency, duration and intervals. Usually sessions commence on a weekly basis in order to establish some momentum, but they can be spread further apart as counselling progresses. My counselling approach is generally integrative, combining my broad training in a way that is tailored specifically to your needs. For example, if your difficulties concern anxiety in relationships then we may decide to focus on patterns of communication using a Systemic approach combined with some CBT strategies around fear. We will review progress on a regular basis.

If you are interested in counselling, I am a BACP accredited counsellor with many years experience and I offer a free, 20-minute consultation. Please feel free to contact me on 020 7096 8854 or email me at martin@achievingbalance.co.uk. I am available from 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Thursday, and Friday mornings.

About Martin

Martin Cox Msc., Qualified Therapist And Counsellor In LondonI am a fully trained and accredited counsellor, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) Therapist. I am down-to-earth, easy to talk to and always balance a thoroughly professional approach with a good deal of common sense and humanity. Read more about me or my approach to therapy.

Issues Treated

Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Health Anxiety / Hypochondriasis
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Phobias, i.e. Agoraphobia
Bereavement and loss
Depression/low mood
Anger management
Anxiety
Personal development and coaching
Social Anxiety (or Social Phobia)
Relationship issues
Self esteem
Confidence
Habits & Addictions
Smoking Cessation
Coping with Stress
Weight management

Therapies Offered

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Couple/marital therapy
  • Counselling (Integrative)
  • Family therapy
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Neuro Linguistic Progamming (NLP)
  • Psychotherapy (Integrative)
  • Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)

Counselling Testimonials

  • The first time I looked at your website I cried. It made me realise I needed help. Not only was I struggling with weight loss, I was finding life in general quite hard to cope with and felt I was constantly anxious and stressed. I felt like I was not in the right frame of mind to lose weight and in a rut. It took me a long time to build up the courage to come and see you and after my first appointment I felt like a weight had been lifted and so relieved to know that you could help me. It didn’t take too long to get me back on track. All what you said had a massive effect and enabled me to re-focus and sort my life out. My time with you has undoubtedly had a big impact. I am much happier, calmer, confident and over 2 stone lighter! I now have a strengthened relationship with my husband, son, work and food! All of this has given me the push to move house and start my own business which I am thrilled about. I have recommended you to several people for different reasons. I know that whatever the problem, coming to see you will help. My only regret is that I didn’t come a year earlier. I cannot thank you enough for all you done, I hope that I do not need to re-visit, but if i do, I certainly won’t hesitate in booking an appointment.

    A Young Mother in London
    Counselling for Weight Loss
  • I am used to solving my own problems. Until one day life just about tore me to shreds and left me totally vulnerable, unable to see any value in the future. I turned to Martin for help, and from the first phone call I liked his approach, the calmness in his manner made me feel comfortable from the start. During our sessions Martin created a safe environment in which I was able to step out of the trauma and slowly rebuild my own sense of “self”. Martin introduced practical therapy techniques in a very natural manner – it was like opening a window you didn’t realize was there and letting in fresh air – and suddenly I was able to visualise new solutions for myself.

    I think this was one of the aspects I most appreciated, always being part of the solution, there was never any feeling of being judged at all. When I chose Martin as my therapist it was on the basis of his outstanding academic background and experience: but I found out that the therapist’s personality is just as important a factor, and in my case the calmness and the kindness of his approach meant that I could venture into “dangerous emotional waters” without anxiety or fear. My whole family has felt the benefit of Martin’s work with me, and I am deeply grateful to him for helping me find my way forward.

    A Senior Executive in London
    Counselling for Challenging Relationship Issues
  • Martin was fantastic and I feel as though he is someone I would always go and see for any future issues if necessary. I already have recommended friends to him who also speak very highly of him. His unique stance built me up as a person and set me up for the long-term not just the short.

    A Gentleman from East London
    Counselling for Personal Issues