Will therapy help with my problem?

Will therapy help with my problem? And how do I know what to talk about?

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Being faced with a challenge for growth, or for change, can be quite demanding – who do you turn to for help?

Everybody faces challenges at some point in their lives. A job change, a new relationship, a bereavement, a breakdown of trust – anything that disrupts the status quo can lead to or create feelings of restlessness or misalignment.

Oftentimes, we get through these experiences on our own, using our inner tools and resources. But sometimes, a situation or feeling can be draining, overwhelming and seemingly impossible to resolve on your own.

For most of us these inner tools and developed resources were constructed when we first needed them in life, unusual as children or adolescents. This means that we are using and re-using tools that are outdated and underdeveloped.

Mark Colclough, MA

Here can also be situations that are challenging, exciting and perhaps daunting.

If you have found yourself in any of these life stages, the so-called “therapeutic relationship” can help you to develop these necessary tools for life. I am a fully trained and qualified psychotherapist and couples counselor offering tailor made to help you refine your inner tools and sharpen them. I also have substantial experience in business coaching and sexology.

It’s important to understand the process we will embark upon together with the therapeutic relationship, no matter which professional tool I offer you.

What is the therapeutic relationship all about, anyway?

The therapeutic relationship can help assist you with any mental, emotional, financial, spiritual, relational, cognitive and business oriented problems and challenges. My therapeutic relationship will be beneficial to you, as I approach you in an unbiased way.

My promise of confidentiality is simple, “I offer you complete confidentiality, unless there is a risk of harm to self, other adults or minors.”

When choosing to start the therapeutic relationship, most of my clients have begun with a free 15 minute conversation with me first. Read more about this offer here.

So, any kind of conversation or consultation takes place in a neutral, safe environment, either online, at your place or mine.

You begin by sharing the problem or concern that motivated you to seek out support. I will use a range of professional and therapeutic techniques to help you process the situation. The goals are many, but the idea is for you to establish a healthy and meaningful way forward.

Does all this really work? Yes, for many people it does work. Research shows that the therapeutic relationship can be just as effective as medication in the treatment of certain conditions. The advantage that talking together has over medication is that there are no side effects, no prescription costs and there is no chemical withdrawal.

Therefore, it’s a great idea to try talking as a first step. If you still feel your needs are better met with medication, you can speak to your doctor. I am happy to assist with that process to ensure that you receive the best possible care. In fact, I receive many clients who have a referral from their doctor, and come looking for therapeutic support.

Read some of the feedback that others have left for me.

I offer you complete confidentiality, unless there is a risk of harm to self, other adults or minors.

Mark Colclough, MA

What do I talk about?

Take a moment to check out your body, feelings, thoughts and sensations. Do you have a sense of purpose and direction? What is your spirituality and sexuality all about today? All of these parts of you make up your “field of consciousness” or “personality”, as referred to within psychosynthesis psychology as

“The personality is the collective expression of the physical body, emotions and mind and everything they contain. The personality only comes into being when we discover we have a will, and [are] able to focus it on deliberately selected outcomes. Psychosynthesis refers to this integration of the personality.”

Taking an inventory, as mentioned above, could bring your awareness to an imbalance somewhere, one that leads your attention to a problem in your surrounding life, or perhaps even vice versa.

Many, in fact one in five, experience depression at some point in their lives. Depression can be characterised as persistent low mood, loss of interest in normal activities, hopelessness, insomnia, appetite changes or lethargy – as well as other symptoms which you can read about here. But while we might have identified the prevalence of depression – how many people find the root cause of this in their personality of body, feelings and mind?

This is when you should reach out for the help you deserve. Therapy can help you to dig deeper into your lived experiences and find a positive way forward.

You might be experiencing any of the following:

A relationship problem
A change in career
Symptoms of anxiety such as restlessness, agitation and heart palpitations
Panic attacks
A change at work
Your company is forced into unwanted circumstances
Court proceedings
A serious physical illness
Loneliness
Sexual dysfunction
An addiction
A breakdown of trust, such as an affair
Stress
Burnout
Loss of a loved one, or a loved relationship

And there are many more situations that talking therapy can help you with.

Therapy as a preventative

Therapy isn’t just about treating a problem. It can help prevent problems occurring in the first place. Think about it this way; When you are trying to lose weight, you may choose to go to a gym and work out. But once you’ve lost the weight, you need to keep going to stay in shape. The same can be said about your mental health. Even if you are not currently experiencing any major life changes or depressive symptoms, you could benefit from seeing a therapist. We tend to repeat what we don’t repair – so if there is a pattern in your past that has been left undealt with, it is likely to resurface in the future.