Counselling in London, Camden Glen Gibson - male Counsellor in London Dip. Counselling, MA Psychotherapy, Dip. Psychotherapy mBACP Accredited Counsellor & UKCP Registered Psychotherapist
I aim to bring clarity and sensitivity to my work with warmth, humour, maturity and fresh insight, together with my passionate beliefs of self-determination and responsibility. Having an impartial perspective, in the counselling I usually work both intuitively and with knowledge, experience & understanding of your problems & difficulties. I value the humanity in us all, and give as much attention to our strengths & resources as to our weaknesses. For issues I work with and session details go to Your Issues & Session Details
Counselling provides a safe, confidential space for you to talk about the things you want to talk about: what's happening in your life at the moment, any struggles & challenges, setbacks or wounds, alongside your desired changes, choices & aspirations. My affirming approach is to be alongside you, and the issues you bring to counselling, so the choices you make, enrich rather than limit life. As a counsellor I hold the view that each person takes responsibility for the way they use therapy in their life, so the outcome is in the individual’s hands. Some people simply need to be heard or make sense of things - being more in tune with ourselves, whereas others may want to try new things or change patterns of behaviour.
Often in society there is little time dedicated to understanding ourselves in our own individuality beyond labels or shallow identities. We can be so busy that we find it hard to be still & reflect about our life & situation. In normal social life it is unacceptable to express all our feelings and tell everyone about our experience - even with our closest friends and family, who may find it hard to give objective advice. Many people find it too painful to talk to anyone else about their fears. Our concerns or suffering can feel almost unbearable to ourselves or others. We can't do everything on our own. Even with people we trust, limits are usually set in what we say or are prepared to hear. We may restrain what we disclose about ourselves or fear the response. Some people simply value the therapy as a sounding board, so they can be heard & listened to.
It can dawn on us that waiting for change can go on forever. We may feel unable to solve our problem on our own & need help overcoming it. Therefore, many people value the initial anonymity & professional feedback & help of a counsellor as someone independent to turn to, not directly connected, who isn't too close and can hear you without a vested interest or preconceptions. Receiving a different response and perspective to what is usual in life can also be significant. Many people view counselling as a supportive resource, with someone in their lives they can turn to, just as acceptable as learning about diet and physical health.
Entering into counselling can be bewildering at first, with a confusing number of professional bodies, modalities & jargon and I will do my best to respond to any questions. Starting counselling is a big step and becomes a commitment for both of us ...
For some people it can be difficult to make that first step, entering into counselling. At the beginning my role is to listen and to understand who you are & why you are the way you are, why you have come, what you might need. I usually ask a lot of questions to find out about your life now, your issues, a little about your past, to find out how I can help. Alongside the current issues you bring to counselling, we may look at what you want and what stops you getting there, so far.
We are all hampered by how the limits of language, don't quite explain the full depth of our experiences and my role is to find out about you and the way you do things - your modus operandi. Therefore, my initial approach as a counsellor is to get to know you and for you to develop a greater understanding of yourself in a safe, confidential, supportive and jargon-free environment - a space for you to explore what you want to explore, talk about anything and say the things that for some may be hard to say. I will pay attention to what's being said as well as what might be missed out. My approach is to work with both: the symptoms (issues) and possible causes. For the range of issues go to Your Issues & Session Details
Some problems can’t be resolved & accepting them may be a challenge. Other problems may be hard to let go of, as if we are attched to them. Counselling can help us to stand back and observe the problem and ourselves in it, so we are not just caught in the problem, but have some perspective. New choices may emerge. Counselling can also help people to develop specific life skills.
Although we can't change the world out there, we can undertake "inner work" on ourselves... The counselling will include making connections to how you think, feel & respond in your life. This may involve developing an understanding that you don't have to allow your feelings to have power over you, and that you can make different choices. We may also explore any restrictive belief systems, acknowledging our prejudices (which we all have) during the counselling. Working at your own pace, I offer guidance and support, so fresh ways of seeing yourself, different options and choices may become available.
I recognise that no one theory or approach holds the truth, or explains the complexities of an individual, and that deep and lasting change is possible at any stage of life. Counselling is not a medical treatment or an exact science. We are infinitely complex, full of mystery, with many possibilities. What works for some may not work for others - some people may want an approach to untangle or uncover their issues; others may prefer an approach which unfolds & emerges over time. Sometimes simply talking to someone, and being heard, can be enough. Therefore I do not hold a "one size fits all" or "tick box" approach, nor claim to know all the answers. Some people may simply want to be heard or may require gentle guidance. Others may want a more direct approach and I may offer other creative possibilities of managing or changing life patterns or cycles, eg:
You experience a familiar scenario (the stimulus), for instance a necessity to make a decision, an unavoidable conflict, work pressure, loss of independence or control, etc.
This may trigger feelings like stress, anxiety, depression, anger, etc.
Your response may be self-damaging behaviour, such as running away from problems, doing things in excess (eg: drinking), witdrawing, punishing others, moody, etc... or simply feeling stuck in life.
Some may want to get things off their chest. Some may seek coping mechanisms, resources or different tools to help them. Others may prefer a less "technical" approach - exploring what's happening their lives - maybe a part of their lives they just don't get. Some benefit from a more cognitive, technical style of therapy and a program can be offered to support this. Whereas others may prefer a more relational, interpersonal approach, allowing things to emerge during the counselling process. No single form of therapy is best or adequate in every situation. No one is a stereotype and because we are different (having our own personality, circumstances, needs, strengths, weaknesses & struggles within), what works for many people does not work for everyone. It is my belief that no one theoretical orientation meets every human being’s needs & solve all problems. My experience and training as counsellor includes creatively drawing on a range of approaches and strategies. My integrative approach gives me a broad knowledge, including Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Transpersonal Psychosynthesis and others. I am able to use CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) techniques if required. However my experience tells me that it is not the style of the therapy but the qualities of the therapist & the relationship between therapist & client that matters.
As a counsellor I have both a professional and human approach, which is not just "symptom" related. I focus not so much on analysis and more about curiosity, exploration and reflection, by providing an external perspective, helping to shed light upon the obstacles in your life and may include what you have previously "turned a blind eye to". This can help change the areas you want to change or manage your life differently. My approach here can be to offer a mirror, reflecting back how I experience you and what I see you doing, so you may be able to see more of yourself and focus upon the important areas in your life.
Some people come to therapy wanting to begin a new chapter in their life. Some may have "put things on the back burner" or at the back of their mind, recognising that now is the time to do something about this. Others may experience their life being like a jigsaw, and I see my role as helping make sense of the whole picture with the separate pieces, including any redundant, new or missing ones.
We may assume that a crisis is negative, because it is difficult and painful. However, it may also be a sign that needs paying attention to, and opportunity for change or transformation. Outwardly, we may feel genuine despair, grief, regret or anger. Yet we may also have feelings of a less tangible, existential nature. Inwardly, and just as real, we may also be in contact with a deeper sorrow, grief or pain for ourselves and the world. Some people report this as if a kind of lamenting, like a wailing of the soul.
My role is to support you in discovering not only your external sense of yourself - what you do and would like to do, but also your internal sense of yourself - your home truths, hidden dreams, who you are and what you may become. I will also explore with you what parts of your life you may be excluding.
I value each person's uniqueness and respond in an individual way to your circumstances, and at the same time appreciate the interconnectedness of what we human beings hold in common - that beneath our differences are fundamental shared experiences and concepts, that creativity, the human heart and suffering are universal. I welcome, value and respect people's diversity. My experience includes working with men or women, old or young, who are straight, bisexual, lesbian or gay, white, black or mixed race, of many nationalities and cultures, those who are religious, hold spiritual beliefs, atheist or agnostic. What I have found clients value the most is feeling comfortable with the therapist.
Issues People Bring to Counselling
People come to counselling with an infinite range of issues. For a comprehensive list of issues & symptoms refer to Your Issues & Session Details. These may include:
Life meaning, purpose, direction, existential concerns
Some people may want to handle a certain difficulty in their life. Yet other people may have more vague, not specifically definable issues, needing to evaluate their life. For example wanting to find out why we are anxious & driven by certain things, overcome our fears, improving our self-beliefs, taking risks, or simply knowing it's time for change in our life. We may have fallen into a job, relationship or lifestyle, which we are now questioning. Aspects of our life may no longer fit, or sit well with us. We can discover that we are at a place in our life, that we don't want to be. We may want to feel freer and less trapped. A cliche for some, yet very real for others, is the experience of midlife crisis or sense of life passing by, as we seek a different or new purpose. Not really in the right place in our life, we may want to change our direction in life, or have our "old life" back, yet recognise things won't be quite the same again. Unacknowledged or unexpressed grief or loss may be an issue for some. These less tangible challenges can also be explored in counselling.
My interest in therapy developed in 1982. I have completed 6 years in-depth & practical training in psychosynthesis counselling & psychotherapy in London at The Institute of Psychosynthesis validated by The Middlesex University, drawn to it because it was described as a psychology of the soul.
My training combined the physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and spiritual aspects of a person and help me gain a broader understanding of myself and others. I realised that some things come naturally in life and other things need to be learnt.
As a Counsellor and Psychotherapist, in my practice I bring together over twenty-five years experience of working with people at points of change in their lives, both in the voluntary sector and privately. Over this period I have valued listening to people’s life stories. I acknowledge and aspire to share what I have learnt from others.
I undertake continuing professional development & training in order to enhance my knowledge & experience, and be informed of advancement in this field.
Counsellor Accreditation
Accountable to their codes of practice and ethics, as a fully qualified counsellor & psychotherapist I hold registration with the main UK counselling and psychotherapy professional and regulatory bodies, namely: United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) - I am an Accredited UKCP Psychotherapist - a national body of psychotherapists & psychologists British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) - I am a Member and Accredited BACP Counsellor - a national body of psychotherapists, counsellors, and psychologists National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP) - I am a registered member of NCP - a national association of psychotherapists in private practice Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (AHPP) - I am an Affiliate Member of AHPP - an organisation of humanistic psychotherapists, counsellors, and psychologists
Referrals
Alongside self-referrals and personal recommendation from clients, I accept referrals from GPs, law firms & employers, other counsellors, psychotherapists & professionals. Potential clients will be offered an assessment as soon as possible. They will need to have an interest in thinking about themselves and desire to change.
Fees
I charge a set fee and I have a limited number of reduced rates for those on a low income. It is usual for the full fee to be charged for missed sessions.
Contacting Me
For more details, or to arrange an initial introductory consultation for Counselling or Psychotherapy in London, Camden Town, telephone Glen Gibson on 020 7916 1342. If no one is available to speak to you, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. If I am unable to see you or you would prefer to see a counsellor closer to you, I am able to put you in touch with other Counsellors or Psychotherapists throughout London.
If you are contacting me by email, it would help if you said a little about why you are seeking counselling.
During the initial session you will be encouraged to talk about your situation and why you have come in order to assess your needs. By the end of this initial assessment, if counselling is suitable and we feel comfortable working together, further booked sessions can be arranged. If this is not the case, a discussion will usually take place as to what other alternative therapy or assistance in London may help. Please note, for relationship / marital concerns I only see individuals who want to explore or work through their own issues, I don't see couples.
Central London Location
My Counselling and Psychotherapy practice is based in central London, Camden Town.
It has a range of easily accessible and frequent tube, bus and rail services with available parking nearby. The closest Tube Station is Camden Town on the Northern Line. There is easy access from Camden Road rail station (Silverlink). King’s Cross & Euston main rail stations are nearby.
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