Calm Horizons Counselling & Psychotherapy

31/01/2024

Nearly there, new month tomorrow!
January always feel so long, with so much pressure. All the news and adverts promoting new you, better you.

But maybe there is something in it, not because it's January and all the new year resolution pressure, but because our past can stay with us when it isn't needed or wanted. Good memories can stay, those that make us smile or remember fondly. Those that weigh us down, drag around with us and create negative associations or feelings - that is what needs to be kicked into last year and removed from our 2024 journey.

30/07/2023

Hello, my name is Clarissa and I’m a qualified, experienced, counsellor and psychotherapist.

A little about me. I started my career in the corporate world. It was through situations in those years where I saw and felt the impact of events on individuals feelings. This time inspired a feeling of wanting to help people as unique beings and working with them to empower them to facilitate changes in their lives and emotional well-being.
After several years training and my own therapy, I began volunteering at a therapy and trauma centre. I studied further and also taught counselling theory and practice at a college and set up my own private practice. I now work with clients in a peaceful location in Windlesham as well as offering the choice of holding the sessions in the client home if it works better for them.

Understanding the time that a job can take out of your life, I can work late into the evenings to provide the opportunity for clients to get home from work, breathe, eat maybe and then have their session. I can also see clients during the day understanding that it might be easier to have space and time for a session during school hours.

29/07/2023

What are your standards?

I am a member of the BACP and work within their ethical standards (for more information see http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/ )

I strongly believe that our relationship is the strength that will help you work through what brought you to see me, and this underpins my clinical and theoretical experience utilised in our work
I work to best practice, and as part of this, I feel it is important that I
• work confidentially
• have regular clinical supervision
• continuing my training and personal development
• maintain a network with colleagues for referral
• hold a current and clear enhanced DBS
• keep your best interests at heart, and believe you do not need to see me for longer than is necessary

All BACP members have to work in accordance with the Ethical Framework. It helps you provide your clients with a secure base for your work together.

29/07/2023

Is it confidential?

Yes, the sessions are confidential. The only exception to this would be if I considered that you or someone else was at serious risk of harm. If this does come up, we will talk about it and I will try and seek your consent to contacting other professionals who could help.

29/07/2023

Appointment times.

Sessions are by appointment, and I am flexible, working during the day and evenings subject to availability. My latest session start time is usually 9pm to fit with people working.

29/07/2023

If I miss a session, or if I am late, what happens?

Sessions need to stay within your booked 50 minute slot. If you are late, you can still have the remaining time of your session. If there is no-one booked after you I may be able to extend the time. If you are unable to make your session, I will need 48 hours notice and we can reschedule. If this notice is not provided, the full fee is payable, I hope you understand, as there are rental costs etc that I will have paid for and it also creates a psychological commitment to the therapeutic work. In exceptional circumstances we can of course discuss this.

29/07/2023

How do I start?

Once you have contacted me, we can arrange to have a half hour call at no cost. During this introduction you can talk through what is going on in your life. and I will explain how I work and what the sessions will be like. You can then decide whether you are comfortable and want to continue working together.

29/07/2023

How frequent are the sessions?

Many people have a session once per week. If you are experiencing a particularly difficult time we can meet twice per week during that time if you would like to. Over time, the frequency may lessen as you come towards the end of your therapy.
You can have the same time allocated to you every week, although if you work shifts, varying hours or have other difficulties maintaining a regular slot we can talk about meeting that need.

29/07/2023

Where are the sessions held?

I work from a room in a peaceful, professional location surrounded by countryside in Windlesham. The room is on the first floor but there is a stair lift available for use, and an alternative ground floor wheelchair accessible room is available. Toilets are available on site. Free parking is available outside.
The location is a few minutes from Junction 3 of the M3, and is within easy reach of a Bagshot, Lightwater, Camberley, Sunningdale, Ascot and Bracknell.

29/07/2023

What is the cost?

Each 50 minute session is £55. Payment is required at each session. If you would prefer to prepay for blocks of sessions that can be discussed.
At the first session, a deposit is required for the amount of one session (i.e £55 session fee plus £50 deposit), to be held on account to cover the cost if you fail to make a session without providing 48 hours notice. This fee is refunded at your last session.

29/07/2023

How long are the sessions?

The sessions are 50 minutes.
I have found that this duration is long enough to get into the work but not too long to exhaust your energy and emotion.

29/07/2023

What do sessions involve?

We will sit together in a peaceful, private and quiet room where the undisturbed session time is yours. You can bring whatever areas you wish to talk about.
Over time and through talking about different things, you may find other areas you want to explore and that is fine, I will be with you on your journey.

29/07/2023

Who can benefit?

You may be going through a troublesome period, facing a particular stress or event and talking it through may help you cope. You may be aware of troublesome emotions or thoughts, experience behaviours you feel are negative or feel like you are repeating old patterns with the same undesired result. Gaining an awareness of underlying reasons can enable you to start seeing your life and problems in a different way, so giving you alternatives and possibilities for you to choose a different way of being.

Psychotherapy and counselling can be of great value to you if you are willing to look at yourself, are motivated to put into practice the approaches you determine can enable change and are open to considering the possibility that you are, at least to some extent, responsible for your life.

Areas that can be explored and addressed include:
• stress
• depression
• anxiety
• bereavement and loss
• body image
• abuse
• work related issues
• relationship problems
• loneliness
• feeling unhappy or discontented
as well as addressing experiences or events, recent or historical effecting your life.

29/07/2023

Is it for me?

Only you can answer that. The fact that you are looking at my page indicates that it probably is!
If you want to look at your life or an issue, make changes and move towards your ideal of personal growth then talking about it may help. Perhaps you would like a different perspective on things from someone who is objective and non-judgemental. Maybe you just need some space to let go of emotion and explore feelings, to try and make sense of them.
Most people feel more positive and empowered discussing issues in this context.

29/07/2023

How does it work?

My approach is known as Integrative. This means I draw upon different theories to work with you in the most suitable way for your needs, unique life story and personality. My theoretical bases include humanistic and person-centred, psychodynamic, existential and cognitive behavioural therapy.
I understand that sometimes talking is difficult, and words can be hard to find. We can work with other means of expression, such as drawing, clay, and sand trays which can be a stimulating and powerful method for you to address what is needed.
However we work together, we can talk through how it meets your needs and makes a difference to how you feel. I offer you an accepting and safe space to explore what you want to, listening and talking without judgement.

29/07/2023

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling can work on specific issues that might be bothering you at the time, and tends to be a shorter term process.
Psychotherapy works at a greater depth, looking at areas of your life or personality you might not be happy with or you feel are having an effect on your life. This is therefore a longer term process.
For both counselling and psychotherapy you will need to feel and accept the commitment to working on yourself, and I will be with you to facilitate and support you in that change.

29/07/2023

Welcome
After 15 years of experience, I have created a place to share information about how counselling and psychotherapy works so you can decide if it could work for you.

28/07/2023