British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Psychodynamic Counsellor
Practices in:
Stoneygate, Leicester (LE2)
London Road, close to station (LE2)
Peckleton, West Leicestershire (LE9)
Leicester Forest East (LE3)
Hello and Welcome,
You're likely to be thinking about private counselling or feel ready to set up an initial session. Either way, you've found my website and will need to get a sense of me and how I might help you.
It's also likely that you've never done this before, don't know where to start and actually don't really want to. I know the poignancy and delicacy of the mixed feelings.
You may be hoping that it will all just go away. It probably feels really difficult to know if to do this. Essentially, where to start. If to start. Who to start with.
The main thing to hold on to is the fact that you've acknowledged something really important to yourself. You've felt able to let go of denying that all is ok. So what to do? You're unsure. Maybe I can address some of your initial doubts or concerns. This may help.
Even if you do nothing more at this point, you've made a start. By just this act of your 'looking around' you have already begun. Recognising that you're searching for something and someone is an important step.
Who Is It For?
You. It doesn't matter if you're 18 or 88. There is no typical person, age or 'issue'. Essentially people come because they want a better life - to feel better about themselves. I recognise that it may have been really difficult to make this decision. And once people do get to this point they want to do something about it now.
Waiting...
We are all aware that a long wait for low cost / free counselling and therapy can be commonplace. Certainly not in every case - particularly not in an emergency situation - but more in general. People don't want to hear about, for example, a 6 month waiting list, limited number of sessions, availability only on a Tuesday morning etc. etc. What about how they feel today? Tomorrow? Next week? What about their own circumstances, their own availability?
Meanwhile, what do they do whilst on the 'waiting list'? Once the wait is over it's possible that you'll be offered a limited number of free sessions, but how does anyone know if they will feel better after say 6 sessions? What if they feel the need to continue? What if they don't feel comfortable with the counsellor / therapist they have been allocated.
...Or Doing Something Now
This is a private practice. Which of course means you pay. And yes, we're in a recession. Which may mean things are tight.
But 'private' also means that you have a choice. Many choices in fact. You're in control. It's you who decides if, when, who with and for how long. You can shop around. You can decide who and what is right for you. You can come out of hours. All of this matters to people.
Also, some people don't feel comfortable asking their GP about (free of charge) counselling. It may be an issue about a relationship problem for instance, or something that you simply don't feel warrants talking to your Doctor about.
Relationship Problems?
Relationship problems are a very common reason for people to come to counselling. It doesn't have to be a crisis situation. Although it may be. Or it may feel like it. You might not even be in a relationship. Maybe you know that you're not very good at them.
There's no point in me listing a huge list of superficial 'common relationship issues'. We're too unique. Too complex. In any event you can get all that from a magazine article. I understand people in a different way.
It may be a difficult one for you to broach with friends / family. They all have an opinion based on their own perspective and personal history. Odd as this may sound, well meaning advice can feel awful. Yet people try it out. They try to 'be different'. It just doesn't come anywhere near the fundamental human issue - the core of you.
Relationship Counselling
People often think they have to see a certain type of counsellor about relationship difficulties - someone with the grand title of 'Relationship Counsellor' for instance. Why? If I've trained and worked for years with understanding the human condition will I not understand the deep complexities associated with relating? And if I understand other human issues such as the pain and terror of loss (and the ways in which we defend ourselves from it) will I not understand relationship difficulties?
Papering Over The Cracks
A relationship difficulty isn't a distinct, separate difficulty / entity. The difficulty is part and parcel of who we are. It represent parts of me, you, all of us.
All our behaviour has a meaning. However ashamed or guilty we may feel there is always a meaning, and a sad, poignant one at that. So for me it's about delicately and sensitively understanding the man / woman behind the problem - not only seeing your manifest symptom such as 'commitment phobia' or 'the affair' or 'the sex problem' or whatever else it may be.
That would be like painting over the rising damp on the bathroom wall. Do we do this? Yes, sometimes. In the hope that it will go. But we also know that it will keep on coming back. More about relationships
What About Men?
It may be unchartered territory. Yet somehow men are finding themselves in counselling in increasing numbers. As little as 5 years ago only 15% of the people I saw were male. And currently? It's 50%. More
Who I am
Not only have I years of experience as a professionally qualified counsellor but I've also worked with several hundreds of private clients who have either come directly or been recommended.
Professionally trained in Contemporary Psychodynamic Counselling I provide confidential counselling and therapy for men and women who are experiencing personal, emotional and relationship difficulties in their lives.
Why do I do this? It may sound banal; because for me, nothing in life is more important than being ok with who we truly are and were meant to be. If that's not right then internal stresses are ever present. We all to some extent twist ourselves out of shape. And we all pay for this one way or another. It's the tragic waste of living a life that's hampered by (often vague) misery and suffering that really gets to me.
My core professional training was undertaken within the Counselling and Psychotherapy department at the University of Leicester, a training body renowned for clinical and academic excellence. I am a registered member of the BACP, a regulatory organisation which seeks to maintain high standards of ethical clinical practice.
I've worked professionally as a counsellor within many different contexts and settings from schools and colleges to organisations specialising in cancer care. My original private practice 'Primary Counselling' was formed with a co-partner in the village of Peckleton, West Leicestershire several years ago. Recommendations and referrals have steadily increased leading to the development of Leicester Private Counselling in Stoneygate.
Located on a quiet road within the heart of Stoneygate Leicester, close to the De Montfort and Leicester Universities, the practice is easily accessible for people who live/work in the city and surrounding areas within the county of Leicestershire. There is a small car park and ample on-road parking.
Open 8.00am - 8.00pm. Convenient early morning, lunch-time, after-work and evening access
My other practice in Leicester is nearer to the city centre. Close to University Road and De Montfort Street this practice offers you the opportunity to come for counselling in a beautifully restored Victorian building and professional therapeutic setting.
Additionally, my main county practice is located in the pretty and peaceful little village of Peckleton in LE9. For more information about this practice please go to www.primarycounselling.co.uk
Personal Therapy for Counselling and Psychotherapy Trainees
There is no denying that this training is emotionally demanding. Facing previously unknown aspects of yourself cannot be experienced as anything but.
Having survived the emotional demands of lengthy and rigorous psychodynamic training, I'm highly attuned and sensitive to the needs of trainee psychodynamic students.
I offer you the opportunity to work through the (often complex) underlying issues that are inevitably evoked throughout your training and beyond. The essential self-knowledge gained through personal therapy can provide valuable professional, academic and personal benefits. More
Counselling for Young People: Post 18
I have years of experience working therapeutically with young adults. This time of life can bring up a mass of internal stresses. Common issues include stress connected to loss and separation, independence, loneliness, identity, 'belonging', endings and new beginnings, performance anxiety, relationship difficulties, sexual intimacy, sexuality, relationship breakdown and the like.
The consequences can feel as if you are stuck, unable to move on with life. It can be a lonely time. It's not always easy to talk to your peers / family about this kind of stuff. Together we can work at untangling your feelings, remove some of the obstacles and get some control back in your life.
Call me. Having a confidential informal chat can be a real help. We may decide to set up a counselling session, we may not. Call first and we can take things from there.
Frequently I'm contacted by university students. That's fine but it may also be useful for you to know that the University of Leicester, De Montfort University and Loughborough University all offer a Student Counselling Service - free of charge.
Workplace and EAP Counselling
My other practice, Primary Counselling, is the preferred provider of confidential counselling and support for a growing number of public and private sector organisations. We work with both national EAP's and directly with Leicestershire companies. More
How Soon?
This is a private practice and I'm a private practitioner. Therefore unlike other services out there 'waiting lists' don't exist. Introductory Sessions can usually be arranged at short notice.
"Yes but..."
People often imagine themselves talking to a counsellor. What to say, how to be, what not to say..... I know that the prospect can feel excruciating. This may help.
Referral or Self-Referral?
Whilst I sometimes accept referrals from Doctors, EAP's, Solicitors, Occupational Health specialists and other professionals, most men and women choose to confidentially self-refer.
You do not need to come via your GP or indeed via anyone! Just call or mail and we can think through what feels ok for you right now.
Best regards,
Marina
