I have chosen the images above as a metaphor for describing the therapeutic process.  Often clients don't know what to expect when they start counselling.  Usually by the time a client decides to start therapy they are feeling so overwhelmed with so many different emotions.  It could manifest in angry or emotional outbursts, problems sleeping, not wanting to do the things you normally like doing.  It can also cause intense periods of isolation as for some, this can feel like their only safe place.  Feelings can be so overwhelming and often people don't know how to emotionally regulate themselves.  In the assessment session, the therapeutic goals are identified and the work begins.   

The second image of the mountain and the road is the start of your counselling journey.   Often you have no idea what you are going to learn about yourself and where your therapeutic journey is going to take you.  I like to manage clients' expectations about therapy and it is actually quite normal to feel worse before you start to feel better.  People often state "I hope you are able to fix me".  Therapy is not about "fixing" someone but rather about facilitating them in their journey of self-exploration and self-discovery.   "You are your own expert" and I am your facilitator to help you be the best version of yourself.  

Therapy can be a really painful process.  It is about exploring what I refer to as your "shadow side" ... everybody has this.  The key is what we do with it.  People will often express fear about what they are going to discover about themselves and how they can cope with it.   Together in a safe and non-judgemental environment, I help you prepare for dealing with this emotional pain.  We work on tools and techniques to help you cope with all these intense emotions.  It is as if we are opening a bottle of coke .... we release a little bit at a time.  I teach you how to emotionally regulate yourself to help you cope with the emotional pain that you might experience along the way. Sometimes people might feel stuck or experience regressions whilst they try and resolve their issues.   All of this is part of the therapeutic journey.

The final image is the mountain and its reflection.  Eventually, you get to a place where you know who you are and what has shaped you along the way.   You learn how to identify what your triggers are and who you are in relationships and hopefully embrace your shadow side and change what needs to be changed.  You learn more about your relationship with yourself and hopefully get to a place where you like who you are.  The therapeutic journey is transformational.  I don't believe the learning ever stops as growth is ongoing however, you get to a place where you have the tools and techniques to cope with whatever challenges life may throw at you.