You will have heard the saying, “If you want to get ahead, get a hat.”

Well, I’m a hat. Let me explain:

H is for help.

We all need a little help from time to time and yes, I know it can feel uncomfortable acknowledging that and even harder actually asking for it but once you have taken that step, trust me, it gets easier. It may feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders, a sense of relief, indeed, some of my clients tell me that they even felt better just coming for their free consultation and having the space to get things off their chest. Being listened to and acknowledged is really important to us as human beings and goes a long way to enhance a therapeutic connection. Consider how many times you have felt truly heard and understood.

It may well be the first time you have voiced your concerns and I’m here to listen.

Life is full of ups and downs and that is totally normal. As is our ability to cope. But when things start getting tricky and the situation does not seem to be improving, some help could be all you need to make the difference.

Whatever past history hurts or haunts you, we can deal with together. Which brings me on to the next letter – A.

A is for advantage.

What do you consider an advantage? When things have gone well for you, what was it that made the difference in the outcome?

Having an expert on board could be seen as an advantage. Some one to guide you, challenge any ‘faulty thinking’ that has you going round in circles trying to achieve your goals and keeps you on track by providing an accountability element.

Being in a team means you are not alone. Many people attempt things alone and fail because in some way they believe they will not succeed. This could be due to past experiences, negative influences or lack of understanding or knowledge. Two heads are always better than one!

Another ‘A’ word is all around. This is what I provide to my clients – an all-around, holistic approach that is tailored to your individual requirements.

Let me explain further. A ‘one size fits all’ approach will have limited success, and this is because it may not fit totally with you. It may have words that you don’t use, or situations that are not right for your day-to-day life – these will cause a blip and the mind may not totally accept the help because of them. If the work is tailored using your scenario’s and your words, ultimately, we have the upper hand and therefore success is within an easier reach.

T is for trust.

It is imperative that you trust your therapist to help in an appropriate and effective way. As part of the National Council for Psychotherapists and a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register, I will be straight with you about how I can help and to assist you finding alternative support should my services, or me, not be right for you and your issues.

In my opinion, this is the best way to establish an effective and workable therapeutic relationship.

T is also for together.

I am a big believer in the collaborative approach and whereas I may well have an extensive array of tips, techniques and tactics and be the expert in my field, you, are most definitely the expert on you and therefore I need you on board to give us the best chance of success.

This is where the collaboration comes in.

I often describe my service like a Pick and Mix counter.

There are lots of goodies on offer, all of which will be helpful and it’s up to you to help choose what you like the sound of or what will fit best into your life. This way, you are more likely to make sustainable changes that will lead you successfully to achieving your goals.

Let us discover together what will give you the edge, the advantage and finally get the to where you want to be.