Welcome, and thank you for visiting Pagoda Counselling.
My name is Nina R Turner and I am a counsellor and psychotherapist in Lincolnshire, Bath and Online.
Its foundations lay in the work of Carl Rogers in the 20th Century who believed that humans had the ability to resolve their issues, given a safe place & time to explore and come to appropriate conclusions on how to emotionally grow.
Carl Rogers’ approach has evolved, reflecting the modern world’s need to find solutions as promptly as possible, hence working with a therapeutic toolbox of proven ‘What Works’ approaches has been developed.
If you have agreed to commence Counselling sessions, you will be following a trajectory towards achieving your desired outcomes; the word trajectory is used rather than plan as your Sessions will always be driven by your presenting needs so if, for example, between sessions a situation has happened in your life which you wish to discuss, explore – your Counsellor will allow you time, space to discuss and guide you to reaching your own positive understanding.
To ignore any deviation to a previous plan would be to ignore that you would likely be preoccupied, unable to concentrate until what had happened was dealt with, in your mind and the trajectory towards your desired outcomes can continue... Your Sessions will always be driven by what you, the Client wishes to bring to discuss in Sessions...
The general trajectory is that the first Session after the initial introductory free telephone conversation, is that the Client tells their story, what troubles them, whilst the Counsellor listens, absorbs all that you say in tone, body language and actual words, aiming to understand you from your perspective, view...then your Counsellor will reflect back what they have heard which may not be what you had originally thought in your mind, to challenge that there is an alternative way to understand a situation...from there, Client & Counsellor, we would agree which tools, specific approaches you are content to try and practice to help you overcome what has troubled you...
The demands in a modern world required that the Person-Centred approach evolved to become more outcome, solution focussed to aid a Client’s progression in an appropriately timely manner, using a proven toolbox of an evolving ‘What Works’ and a sample of often used approaches are mentioned below:
Active listening, reflecting thoughts to understand the problem from at least two perspectives to better enable grasping the nature of the issue so that a trajectory to overcome the issue may be formulated .
Affirmations to begin to build self-strength; esteem, worth, value & resilience.
Introducing skills of Challenge rather than Confrontation to reduce ‘heat’ in conflict situations.
Introduce the boundaries of Acceptable and Unacceptable to recognise your rights exist so that additional, unnecessary stress may be avoided.
Coping, calming ways to reduce anxiety level and aid your brain to maximise its abilities, decision making skills which is especially helpful for those facing stressful situations such as interviews, life changes, exams.
Empty Chair which can be helpful to Clients who have things to say but are unable to speak directly to another, e.g. in cases of Domestic Abuse or if another is not available
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy provides clear frameworks for Clients to use which is especially helpful with Clients struggling with conflict in relationships and feelings expressed as anger
Bradshaw’s approach to healing the wounded inner child has proven positive with Clients who have experienced difficulties, trauma in Childhood and Teenage years
Transactional Analysis’s awareness of the four life positions, the way a person perceives the world of I’m OK / You’re OK; I’m not OK / You’re not OK; I’m not OK / You’re OK; I’m OK / You’re not OK which is especially helpful with Clients whom have felt a power imbalance or injustice in their experiences
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) focus on keeping a long-term goal in mind has helped people focus on making decisions which help them move closer to their ultimate goal
Overcoming Grief based on the Integrative Person – Centred approach and the pathway indicated by working with hospices
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can be helpful for Clients who seek to create a habit out of realising what you think and feel are related and learning to adopt helpful ways of thinking...
...helpful thoughts will lead to positive outcomes and feeling emotionally happier & potentially, even physically healthier due to being less stressed so muscle aches, headaches reduce...However, from the Integrative Person – Centred perspective, if CBT is undertaken before an original hurt, trauma has been resolved & allowed to heal, Clients tend to return to therapy...CBT without resolving the original hurt is akin to using a plaster on a wound without cleaning the wound first
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on +44 7961 554466 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.