Dulwich Counselling

I believe that it is very important that the client feels comfortable working with their therapist and so I always suggest an initial session to give us both the opportunity to look at how we might work together. If you have any previous experience of therapy, it would be useful to discuss this then - what worked well, what you might like to be different this time, etc. From there, you can decide whether to book further sessions. If this is the case, I usually suggest an initial six sessions followed by a review.



How do we begin?
I believe that it is very important that a 'client' feels comfortable working with their therapist. For this reason, I always suggest an initial session to give us both the opportunity to look at how we might work together and for you to ask any questions.
Counselling can be either short-term or be longer-term, to enable work at a greater depth. Some people find that just a few sessions enables them to tackle something that has led to them feeling 'stuck'.
At the end of the initial session, you decide whether to book further sessions. You might choose to think about this (or discuss, if you are being seen in a couple) and this is fine. If you choose further sessions, I usually suggest something like six sessions, followed by a review.
How does counselling work?
A counsellor meets with their 'client' on a regular basis, working to help them gain a greater self-awareness of their thoughts, feelings and behaviour and then find ways to make positive changes.
This talking therapy may be used to focus on and work with a specific difficulty or problem although this is often underpinned or intertwined with other aspects of the person's life. The counselling process provides an opportunity to unravel and explore these personal issues in a private, confidential and non-judgemental setting.
What style of counselling is used?
The counselling is integrative, which means that the most effective approach is used to meet the needs of each client. This is underpinned by a humanistic philosophy that assumes the capacity of each individual to shape her or his own life.
Derek's practice draws from approaches including cognitive-behavioural (which can help clients explore ways of thinking, how this affects their behaviour and how, for example, to break self-defeating patterns), person-centred, Gestalt and existential therapies.
He has also trained in life coaching so can integrate this into his approach when this suits your way of working.
How are the highest standards of counselling ensured?
As part of his professional responsibility to his clients and as required by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) for a senior accredited practitioner, Derek regularly receives formal clinical supervision from a highly experienced practitioner.
What about confidentiality?
I believe that it is very important that the client feels comfortable working with their therapist and so I always suggest an initial session to give us both the opportunity to look at how we might work together. If you have any previous experience of therapy, it would be useful to discuss this then - what worked well, what you might like to be different this time, etc. From there, you can decide whether to book further sessions. If this is the case, I usually suggest an initial six sessions followed by a review.
As a senior accredited member of the BACP, Derek works within their Ethical Framework. Apart from exceptional circumstances such as risk of harm to a third party, confidentiality is only breached with the explicit consent of the client or when the counsellor is required to do so by law.

Contact by email or call 07813 708 331