For executive coaching, employee
assistance, training and supervision, click here:
I know who I was when I
got up this morning, but I must have changed
many times since then. - Alice in Wonderland
How am I feeling?
If you are browsing this website chances
are you are not feeling on top of the world. We know
it's normal to feel upset or worried from time to time.
Life throws problems or difficulties at us and usually
we have the resources to cope. However, sometimes there
are problems that are too big or too numerous and we
end up feeling overwhelmed. When this happens we may
need more than the support of friends or family. Indeed
the problems may be with our friends or family! Then
turning to a professional such as a therapist or counsellor
can help.
In the past many people felt a stigma
attached to asking for professional help as if it was
somehow shameful or weak to be unable to cope. Fortunately
times have changed and there is much more openness and
acceptance of emotional problems. People now recognise
the need to work things through and know that 'soldiering
on' and 'sweeping thing under the carpet' can actually
make matters worse over time. It is best not to let
things get to the point where energy reserves are exhausted.
When things near the 'burn-out' stage, it may be time
for skilled help.
As a general rule we suggest talking
to a good friend or family member first. At work having
the courage to talk to the boss can often be all that's
needed. If these avenues don't work or feel impossible
then it may be time to talk to your GP or to give us
a call.
Problem Checklist
To help you get a handle on what
may be troubling you and to focus in on what you
want to work on we have provided a downloadable/printable
Problem Checklist for you to look at and fill out.
This is simply a list of typical problem areas that
psychotherapy can address. It is a good idea to
fill this out and bring it along to any assessment
session you may subsequently set up and to discuss
what you checked with the therapist.
In addition we have provided
a downloadable/printable questionnaire called The
Psychotherapy File. This originates with Cognitive
Analytic Therapy and contains many examples of problematic
patterns of thinking, feeling and acting for you
to consider. Again highlight or underline the examples
that seem to apply or are close to what you are
struggling with and bring it along to your assessment
session. It is a really useful way into discussing
problems and may save quite a lot of time in the
sessions.
Download PDF documents here (open in new windows):