Healing Ways Counselling

Healing Ways Counselling

WELCOME TO HEALING WAYS COUNSELLING. My name is Karen Longmore and I am a Professional Counsellor with a Diploma in Humanistic Counselling. I am also a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), and adhere to the BACP's Code of Ethics and Practice.

ARE YOU FINDING LIFE DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH, AND DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT YOUR ISSUES? DO YOU NEED SUPPORT IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS?

"Abuse, Addiction(s), Anger Management, Anxiety, Bereavement, Body Image Issues, Bullying, Depression, Eating Disorders, Low Self-Esteem, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Relationship Difficulties, Self-Harm, Separation /Divorce, Stress, Sexual Abuse, Termination /Miscarriage, Trauma, Work Related Issues"

If so, I offer INDIVIDUAL and COUPLES COUNSELLING in the Southbourne, Emsworth area. This can be either short-term or open-ended counselling, which can be daytime or evening sessions. I also offer a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION SESSION, where we can meet to discuss your needs, and you can decide whether counselling is right for you. I have a dedicated therapy room at my private practice, offering a safe and confidential environment, set in peaceful and comfortable surroundings.

Everyone will experience emotional difficulties or issues at some time in their lives. This could involve feeling confused, overwhelmed, or that life is out of control. Counselling offers you the time, space and opportunity to explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe, supported and non-judgemental environment. This enables you gain more clarity and understanding about your situation which, in turn, can bring about more personal awareness. Increased awareness can help you to feel more empowered, so that you can make informed choices on ways of moving forward in your life. I believe that everyone has the innate ability within themselves to heal and grow, and reach their full potential.

Aims of Counselling: -

a) Look beyond the presenting issues to possible underlying causes.
b) Identify what might be stoppping you from reaching your full potential.
c) Help you understand yourself better and to accept yourself.
d) Change behaviour to that which is more productive for you.
e) Encourage you to use your inner resources to become more self-sufficient.
f) To increase confidence and self-esteem.
g) To develop coping strategies, in order to be able to deal with stressful situations, and times of crisis, more effectively.

COUPLES COUNSELLING - My role is as a facilitator to help couples to explore their own thoughts and feelings in relation to any issues, conflicts, misunderstandings and miscommunication, that they may be facing in the relationship between them. During the session, couples will have the opportunity to take turns in actively listening to the other partner speaking, and expressing his /her feelings about a particular situation - the aim being to "feel heard and understood by your partner". Once the couple have gained more of a mutual understanding about what is occurring in their relationship, they can then explore ways of negotiating their differences and find more effective ways of communication, as a way of moving forward.

Aims of Couples Counselling: -

a) Improving communication together, both on an emotional and a practical level.
b) Improving your ability to negotiate and to compromise more successfully.
c) Better acceptance of your own personal boundaries and individual responsibility.
d) Greater ability to respond in a more flexible and tolerant way in the relationship.

I work in a Humanistic way, incorporating the following approaches into my work: Person-Centred, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, and some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I tailor the way that I work to suit the particular needs of the individual client(s). My approach is warm and caring, and is also client led. This means that we will work together on the issues that you choose to bring to the session each time.

I believe that the relationship between counsellor and client(s) plays an important role in the success of the therapy. Therefore, I would be working at establishing a good rapport and building up trust in the relationship between us. I will also strive to be empathic by listening attentively, in order to understand your experience; to accept and value you positively as a person; and to relate to you in a real, genuine and open way.

I am aware that some people have difficulty in talking about their problems and expressing themselves. Therefore, I also offer the option of working creatively as being another avenue in which to connect with your innermost thoughts and feelings. This could involve working with a wide variety of art materials, stones or sandtray. You do not need to be a brilliant artist in order to work in this manner, as there is no right or wrong method of doing this. Working creatively can bring unconscious feelings to a conscious level, in the form of an image or symbol, which can then be explored. This way of working can be an effective and powerful tool, and the whole process can be incredibly liberating, healing and carthartic.

In addition to my Private Counselling Practice, I have over eight years experience working as a Volunteer Counsellor in various organisations. I worked as a Volunteer Counsellor at the Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) for over three years, offering counselling and support to women and men who have experienced sexual violation in the past, or more recently. I also have five years experience of working for Off-The-Record (OTR) in Havant, firstly as a Support Worker for two years and then as a Volunteer Counsellor for three years, counselling young people from 11 to 25 years. Additionally, I have over a year's experience of working for The Carers Support Service in Chichester, counselling adults who need support in their role as carer to a spouse, partner, child, parent or relative. The three organisations have given me valuable knowledge and experience of working with a diverse range of people.

Client feedback: -

"I was initially nervous, but soon felt at ease. My problems seemed so huge and almost insurmountable, but you were kind, considerate, and helped me understand the counselling process, or journey as I now know it. "

"On a scale of feeling good about myself, I have gone from a 2 to an 8 out of 10. "
(Colin)

"I have regained a lot of the confidence that I lost over the years and feel a more balanced person, who is now able to focus more on the positives in my life rather than the negatives. "

"I cannot recommend my counsellor highly enough. "
(Paul)

"I found learning different coping strategies, such as calm breathing and taking care of myself, to be very beneficial. "
(M)

"I am more relaxed, happier, and back to my normal self. Before, I was pretending and putting on an act to be the person I used to be - now I am back to that original person! I feel that I am back on my feet again, and feel able to do it on my own. "
(R)

"I feel a lot stronger, more self-aware, and more able to cope. I also feel that I have really made progress with my issues. "
(C)





I offer a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION SESSION. Thereafter, I charge £40 per hour for an INDIVIDUAL session and £45 per hour for COUPLES COUNSELLING. Concessions are available for Students or those on a Low Income.

If you feel my service may be of benefit to you, or if you have any questions at all, please contact me on Tel: HOME. 01243 376173 MOB. 07708 616923 E-MAIL. info@healingwayscounselling. co. uk.