Counselling Articles

Finding a Good Therapist is like…..

Did you know that anyone, in the UK, can call themselves a counsellor or therapist? Scary when you think about it, right? Finding a good therapist can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack, almost impossible to do. Today, typing the word “therapist” in your search engine and hitting the Enter key will result in hundreds of therapist’s listings. It’s well-known that not all therapists are actually “good” at what they do. This belief is supported by examples of “bad” therapists regularly portrayed on television and film. So how do you go about sorting the good therapists from the therapists that need therapy more than you do? This article will help you to become more familiar with the traits of both good and bad therapists. Once you become more familiar with what to look out for, you can make a better informed choice and feel more confident in your decision to have therapy. (more…)

Most people will have experienced stress from time to time. This may be due to redundancy, marital problems or even something positive such as going on holiday. Yet, persistent and prolonged stress can lead to “burnout”. Burnout occurs when you feel completely overwhelmed and unable to meet the demands of your life. You may feel like all of your energy has disappeared along with your interest and motivation, leaving you feeling hopeless and with nothing more to give. This feeling does not usually happen overnight but is a slow gradual process that gets increasingly worse. Listed below are some of the signs to look out for:

Symptoms of Burnout:

• A decreased ability to perform tasks
• In some cases, there is an increased dependency on drugs or alcohol
• Feelings of isolation and loneliness
• Feelings of frustration
• Feelings of exhaustion
• Emotional Outbursts
• A “what’s the point?” attitude, or failure to find meaning (more…)

Whether you are a single parent, a stay at home parent, or if your partner is frequently away; it can be very hard to adapt to the life changing event of a new addition to the family. Perhaps you feel as if your friends have a lot more freedom and have started to leave you behind, or that you are missing out on all the fun when you used to be at the centre of it all.   You may think that feeling this way makes you a bad parent but be reassured in the fact that this is perfectly natural and you are not alone! There are plenty of ways you can try and beat the blues. Here are a few tips to get you started on your way:

(more…)

Harley Therapy reports continued growth in demand for Psychotherapy and Counselling Services in London. Its therapists have seen further rises in referrals despite the current recession. The most recent statistics from Harley Therapy show that the demand for counselling has risen 18% year on year. Harley Therapy has taken on further therapy premises in an effort to accommodate such growth.

Clinical Director, Dr Sheri Jacobson comments ‘this is a remarkable trend given that the majority of the economy is retracting. In part, I believe that the increases in demand are linked to the recession itself since it is likely to give rise to a host of issues that lend themselves to therapy. Job losses or the threat of redundancy can give rise to depression and stress. Financial worries can create significant anxieties and relationships can become strained as a result.’

How is it possible that people have less disposable income and yet there is a surge in demand for private therapy? One answer is that individuals are increasingly recognising the priority of mental health; many are keen to work through issues early on rather than letting them snowball into larger problems. Jacobson finds that clients are eager to nip the problem in the bud. ‘This seems to reflect a growing acceptance of counselling and psychotherapy; an acknowledgement of the importance of talking therapies in improving one’s mental well-being and pattern of relationships. What was once taboo no longer has as much stigma. The recession may have taken the edge of this trend, due to financial restrictions, but not entirely. Even those whose income has declined are still willing to aside funds for therapy’.

Harley Therapy also reports that a growing number of individuals are seeking therapists who can provide shorter-term therapy programs such as Cognitive behavioural therapy. This can work out to be more cost effective than say an extended period of three or four times a week psychoanalysis. Harley Therapy also record that more individuals are seeking appointments with London Counselling Psychologists who are registered with the major health insurance providers such as BUPA, AXA or Cigna. A further trend is the rise in partners seeking couples counselling, also up by nearly 20%.

Dr Jacobson feels that there is a further explanation to the growth ‘We come across a number of individuals who are eager to get started on a course of therapy, and have been disconcerted with long waiting lists elsewhere. Many individuals also prefer not to have their mental health reviews on NHS records and will opt to see a private therapist instead.’

It seems that there are indeed some areas of the economy that are less vulnerable in this recession. This is a fortunate piece of news for the many individuals who have started training to become a psychotherapist or counsellor.

Harley Therapy operates Psychotherapy and Counselling Rooms in Harley Street, Central London. The practising therapists are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Psychological Society, the British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. Harley Therapy offers free counselling information guides on its news page Counselling News