Marston Associates

"You mainly feel the way you think." Albert Ellis

"The biggest changes we can ever make is to make a change within ourselves."

Counselling is often called the “talking therapy”, or simply a conversation that attempts to help us make sense of our lives, what is causing distress or pain.

It is when these things become clearer that you,the client, become more able to make choices about what it is you want to change. Also to come to terms with those things that can’t be changed.

What can be helpful in counselling is the opportunity to talk to someone who is separate from the rest of your life, who won't be overwhelmed or shocked by what you say, and won't tell you what to do.

Counselling offers you a place to explore difficulties in your life with someone who is trained to neither judge nor advise you, but may help you unlock your feelings and come to understand more about yourself.

All that is required is a willingness to take a closer look at the things that we cannot easily make sense of ourselves.

I will listen and help you work through your problems and feelings in a safe and confidential atmosphere.


Counselling is different from the help and advice you may receive from family or friends.

No problem is too small or too trivial to bring to counselling. If it is troubling you then it is important.

If you feel you would like to make changes to your life or how you respond to situations, counselling may be able to help.

We will work at a pace which is comfortable for you. We will open the door on those dark places but if you don't want to go in right now, that's ok. We can always take a look another time.

I offer a range of talking therapies as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Different people and different situations respond to different approaches. You and I can discuss what may be the best approach for you.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy more commonly called CBT – is growing in popularity. Research has shown that CBT is effective in a wide range of problems including anxiety, panic attacks and depression.

CBT focuses on the way you think and act in order to help you overcome negative and unhelpful thinking and ways of behaving.



What Conditions Can it Help?

People come to counselling for many different reasons. It may be that:

You are experiencing an immediate crisis in your life such as bereavement, job loss or the end of a relationship

You suffer from anxiety or panic attacks

You are suffering with depression or low mood

You are struggling to deal with fears and phobias

You may be having difficulty with negative thoughts and feelings about the past or yourself

Perhaps you are having a difficult time with relationships with other people.

You may feel you lack direction and life has no meaning for you

You may be feeling stressed and confused at work

You may feel you are being bullied at work or that you bully others

The pressures and stresses of modern day life just seem too difficult to cope with

Perhaps you feel you lack confidence to deal with situations in your life

Each person has his or her own reasons for coming to counselling.

Talking things through with a trained counsellor can often help to make things clearer.


What Benefits can be Expected?

This is a difficult question to answer as the benefits vary from client to client. However, research does show that individuals who are finding life difficult do feel better following counselling.

Counselling may help you to:

View a situation that cannot be changed in a more positive way.

Help you to find skills and strategies to live through a difficult time.

To make changes that will offer you benefits throughout your life.

To build the confidence to make changes and free yourself from limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns.

To work through difficult decisions by enabling you to view the situation from other perspectives.

The benefits do rely very much on you as the client wanting to make those changes and working towards them. Sometimes it is quite hard, but always rewarding. And as your counsellor I will be there to support you in those hard times and to help you celebrate the success of change.

"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands". - Richard Bach