Caroline Hobson BSc (Hons) in Person-Centred Counselling
"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do."
Brene Brown
B
My Therapy Services
01.
I offer short and long-term therapy - whatever feels right for you. Each session lasts for 50 mins and takes place at an agreed day/time each week. I am based in East Grinstead. To increase success in therapy, weekly sessions are highly recommended initially. However, I understand that you may feel as time goes on, that your needs may change and you may feel you need/want to decrease your sessions. We can discuss and agree on this together.
I am guided by you - this is your time to talk about whatever may be troubling you in a confidential and non-judgemental space. I will offer empathic understanding, acceptance, and genuineness. My work is grounded in the belief that being alongside you in your pain, internal conflict and mental distress enables you to express your deepest feelings and emotions and feel heard and valued. I will not tell you what to do as I hold the belief that you are the expert on yourself.
"No one else can know how we perceive, we are the best experts on ourselves." Carl Rogers
I typically work experientially, naturally guided to draw attention to and focus on particular aspects of your internal experiencing, enabling you to unfold and openly express yourself. I hold dear the person-centred belief that you are the expert on yourself and thus have the capacity to find your own way forward with counselling support. I strive to work collaboratively in building a trusting and connecting relationship to promote therapeutic change and healing thus helping you to move towards a more fulfilled life.
Although very important, it can feel overwhelming to find the right counsellor and approach for you. With this in mind, I offer a free 20 minute initial telephone assessment so that you can get a feel of my way of working before committing to continuing therapy with me. This provides the opportunity for you to explain what has brought you to counselling and to decide whether counselling is for you and if I am right for you.
For fees and availability please click
I may introduce creativity into the sessions to enhance your process, deepen self-exploration, self-understanding, and encourage self-expression. This may include the use of emotion cards, creative writing, drawing, painting, collating, etc. I continue to work in a person-centred way to help you find your own personal meaning behind your creation which is free from judgment, diagnosis, and interpretation.
“Images can be a useful way to express what needs expressing when words are too hard, or not enough”
(Association for Person-Centred Creative Arts, 2000)
Working therapeutically in a creative way will always be mutually discussed beforehand. You are not required to be an artist to engage in creativity!
Your choice/preference will be totally heard and respected so please let me know if this way of working doesn't feel right for you.
You will find some examples of working creatively below
02.
Walk & talk therapy sessions are an alternative way to counselling and are best described as taking the traditional, inside counselling session, outside. East Grinstead is lucky enough to have several natural beauty spots to take advantage of. Walk and talk sessions last for 50 mins (the therapeutic working contract is discussed prior to and at the initial session). We can walk as quickly or as slowly as you like, I walk at your pace. There are also opportunities to sit on nearby benches if you decide you would like a rest from walking at any time during the session. Outdoor sessions are of course weather dependent. However, I am flexible and have been known to walk in wind and rain. If you do not feel comfortable walking in certain weather, we can always switch to another way of working. This is something we can discuss prior to a session. Some of the benefits of walk and talk sessions include; getting fresh air and connecting with nature whilst promoting physical and mental well-being. The sessions can be especially helpful for clients who feel anxious or claustrophobic in the environment of a small therapeutic room. This can also be a preferable option for those who may find face-to-face, intense eye contact uncomfortable.
Walk & talk therapy setting
I may introduce creativity into our sessions to enhance your process, deepen self-exploration, self-understanding, and encourage self-expression. This may include the use of natural objects in our surrounding, emotion cards, creative writing, drawing, painting, collating, etc. I continue to work in a person-centred way to help you find your own personal meaning behind your creation which is free from judgment, diagnosis, and interpretation. Working therapeutically in a creative way will always be mutually discussed beforehand. Your choice/preference will be totally heard and respected so please let me know if this way of working doesn't feel right for you.
What about confidentiality?
Though walk & talk sessions take place in large open spaces, we may occasionally cross the paths of others. In the event of this happening, I always advise clients to pause until we have passed and we are alone again.
I ask that payment be made via bank transfer prior to the session or I also accept cash on the day. Whichever is easiest for you.
03.
I offer both telephone and online counselling. Each session will last for 50 mins.
You decide which feels best for you. If you feel telephone would be best, I will call you at the agreed time/day. If you decide that online is preferable, I will provide you with a link to join the counselling session. The platforms I use are zoom and whatsapp. In either case, you will need to ensure that you are in a safe and confidential space, free from distractions. In the event of technical difficulties due to extreme weather etc, we can agree to rearrange the session or switch to another platform.
I ask that payment be made via bank transfer prior to the session.
