WHAT IS COUNSELLING?
AND WHO IS IT FOR?...
We realise that seeking therapy, perhaps for the first time, is not always an easy decision. You may be trying to find your way through a bereavement, anticipating the loss of someone important to you, or adjusting to a life-changing health event. You may have heard about Arc from your GP or another healthcare professional, from someone who has used our service, or simply found us yourself.
Putting Personal Recovery at the Heart of what we do...
"TRAGEDY BEGINS WHEN SILENCE IS NOT UNDERSTOOD" Henry David Thoreau
Grief is different for each of us. It may bring a profound sense of isolation and loss, shock, numbness or disbelief.
There may be periods of great suffering and despondency as the reality of what has happened begins to sink in. At times, we may feel that we can't cope with life or imagine ever being able to adjust. At other times, we may find ourselves beginning to engage with the world again, however tentatively.
Grief does not follow a fixed sequence or timetable. We may move between periods of intense grief and times when we are able to turn towards everyday life, relationships and the things that still matter to us. We may need support from others, as well as time and space to absorb what has happened and make sense of our experience.
Grief can also affect us physically. We may experience tiredness, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, anxiety, changes in appetite, muscular tension or other physical sensations. These responses can be unsettling, particularly when they are unfamiliar.
If concerned about any of these symptoms,
or if they are worsening, please consult your GP
WHAT IS COUNSELLING?
Counselling offers an opportunity to talk about experiences, thoughts and feelings that may be troubling or difficult to make sense of. It provides a confidential space where you can feel heard, without judgement, and where your own experience and point of view are respected.
Therapy at Arc is individual and shaped around you. Your therapist will take time to understand what has happened, how it is affecting you now, and what you would like to be different. Rather than offering advice, they will work alongside you to help you make sense of your experience, recognise your own strengths and resources, and find ways of moving forward that are meaningful to you.
Our therapists draw on different therapeutic approaches according to your individual needs. Arc also has specialist expertise in working with trauma, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), which may be considered where clinically appropriate.
WHO IS COUNSELLING FOR?
Local people come to Arc following bereavement, during anticipatory grief, or when adjusting to the impact of a life-changing health event. These experiences can affect many different parts of our lives and may leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, isolated, uncertain or struggling to find our way forward.
There is no single way that people respond to profound change and loss. Therapy offers space to explore what is happening for you, understand the impact it is having, and consider what might help.
