Individual Counselling


Portsmouth Personal Counselling with Dean Richardson is a non-religious, therapeutic intervention for individuals seeking relief from emotional conflicts.The counselling process is based on tried-and-tested psychodyamic approach, helping to form an understanding of the individual's personal problems by using the client's real-world experiences.  Plus, the alliance between counsellor and client in the therapeutic relationship can be a powerful ally in helping discover what's going on in thee client's life.Gain insight into what may be motivating you to behave in ways that are barely understood.  When unconscious material is made conscious, you are offered more choice than before; where before there may have been helplessness.

Who is Portsmouth Personal Counselling for?

Firstly, you don't have to be a resident of Portsmouth - but you will have to be able to get to my Portsmouth & Southsea consultation rooms to meet with me for counselling (see locations).Personal Counselling may be suitable for any individual who :-
  • Sometimes feels they have no-one to listen to them.
  • Is seeking change & relief from emotional distress.
  • Is some who takes responsibility for their feelings and their behaviour.
  • Is someone who is interested in developing insight and knowledge about themselves, their situations, their past experiences and (possibly) repeating patterns in their life.
  • Can use therapeutically-gained knowledge intended to help them make changes.
The first session or two we'll use to gain an overview of your presenting problems and to discuss if my form of counselling may be suitable for you.  There's no commitment by coming just to talk with me.

An Overview of the Counselling Process for Individuals.

  • Client and Counsellor meet weekly in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
  • Initially, client & counsellor discuss the client's presenting issues and to find and agree the focus of the work.
  • Learn about the problems ... what's happening in client's life that seems to be out of the client's control.
  • Hypotheses - being curious towards how the client may seem to have lost the ability to be something other than in under the influence of emotional difficulties.
  • What does the client's past history bring into the mix.
  • Re-experience & learn from reoccurring patterns - sometimes patterns which usually occur outside the therapeutic relationship, but sometimes appear to replay between client and counsellor.
Continue the process either for an agreed fixed number of sessions, or on an ongoing basis until both client and counsellor agree that matters have shifted sufficiently that the counselling can conclude.

What can Portsmouth Personal Counselling help with?

Some examples of what personal counselling in Portsmouth with Dean Richardson has helped with include (but not limited to):-
  • Affairs.
  • Anger (investigating triggers, managing responses, anger management etc).
  • Anxiety.
  • Bereavement and loss.
  • Bullying.
  • Career options.
  • Compulsive Behaviour.
  • Concerns about academic matters.
  • Critical Incident Stress counselling (eg an incident at work or socially that has left you distressed and maybe developing a phobia).
  • Death of a partner/loved one.
  • Depression.
  • Destructive behaviour towards relationships.
  • Divorce/Separation.
  • Family matters.
  • Gender identity (gender dysphoria).
  • HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
  • Homesickness or isolation.
  • Job Loss - redundancy, self-esteem & confidence rebuilding.
  • LGBT issues (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender).
  • Life-style issues (eg drug and alcohol use, eating patterns, sleep patterns).
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Money problems.
  • Obsessive behaviour.
  • Personal development.
  • Problems with Relationship communication.
  • Rape (both male-rape and female-rape).
  • Redundancy - job less, self-esteem & confidence rebuilding.
  • Relationship problems.
  • Repeating behaviour patterns.
  • Self-harm (eg cutting / drinking).
  • Sexual identity (gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual etc).
  • Sexual problems.
  • Sexual promiscuity.
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STD / STI).
  • Split agendas within significant relationships.
  • Social problems.
  • Stress.
  • "Stucked-ness" - wishing to move on with life events (eg getting married) but being hesitant.
  • Suicidal thoughts / Suicide attempts.
  • Support for medical procedures.
  • Survivor of violent attack.
  • Survivors of incest.
  • Survivors of major accident (eg road accident).
  • Time-related distresses (eg behaviour seemingly repeating periodically such as periods of depression around the same point in the year).
  • Unemployment struggles/depression.
  • Unexplainable behavioural changes (eg changes in personality or perception when drinking socially).
  • Work performance.
  • Work problems.

What to do next?

Interest? See what appointments I have in my Portsmouth location, make contact with me and we'll arrange an appointment to discuss your therapeutic needs.Contact me...

(Image (c) Webb Zahn / Flickr)