Carol Abramson

I work integratively with each unique individual.  At times in our times many of us have periods of finding it difficult to cope with whatever life has thrown at us. My work is about helping people on their journey whatever their difficulty or concern.  I work using a range of counselling techniques and theories, I am not a purist.  My background is person centred and I always try to start with a sense of humility and a belief that the individual is an expert in their own story and experience.

I believe that through compassionately providing a safe space where people can feel ennabled to speak, think and feel about what is difficult for them and by witnessing and facilitating their explorations and expressions, that change can begin to happen. I believe that each of us has a unique story from which we build our core beliefs and ideas about ourselves and our worlds. I work from a position of valuing and honouring these beliefs and their origins whilst also recognising that sometimes our core beliefs no longer nurture and sustain us.

My training has included Art Psychotherapy so I am happy to work creatively with people if they feel this would be interesting and helpful.  I can have a psychodynamic, a solution focussed, a creative, and a Gestalt perspective.  I am also interested in Mindfulness as a way of stilling and calming the Mind as a way of nurturing and refreshing the self.  I offer a free assessment session for us both to see if we feel comfortable enough to work together. I would hope that together with my client we could identify goals and foci that the client wishes to work on, and then I would proceed with regular reviews to make sure that, even as goals change as they sometimes do, we are still on track.   I often feel that I learn a great deal from my clients and that the work, although sometimes very challenging, is also a privilege.

I offer a free initial session where client and I can meet and make a mutual assessment about whether we feel we can work usefully together.  This is a chance for an exchange of mutual information and also a chance for us to meet each other and for the client to check me  and my workspace out.  I generally ask the client for an outline of their issues and explore with them a little what they would like to get out of the counselling relationship and sessions.  There is space too for client to ask any questions that they may have about any aspect of my work.  We can also consider practical issues around contracting.  I hope that by the end of the session we will both be able to take some time to reflect before we decide whether or not to move forwards and to make arrangements for a first counselling session.