Counselling and Psychotherapy

People come for psychotherapy and counselling for a number of reasons.

Many people attend when life has become unbearable or in response to a crisis. They need support in making new decisions in finding different ways of living. They may simply be looking for a way of getting to know themselves better.

The role of the counsellor and psychotherapist is to help a person work to gain a fresh perspective and enable them to live a more fulfilled and positive life.

Counselling and psychotherapy are similar in approach. Counselling is generally concerned with working through day to day issues which are of a more conscious nature. These issues are worked with in a sensitive, compassionate and non-judgemental way.

Counselling contracts tend to be shorter term.

Psychotherapy is more concerned with getting under the surface of the problem or issues. It is concerned with a deeper transformation. People often present when they are feeling ‘stuck’ in a familiar pattern of thinking, feeling or behaviour. It may be the person does not know what is troubling them, but they are aware something is wrong. The work is often an exploratory process to support the person in finding new insights into their lives.

Psychotherapy contracts tend to be longer term and work at greater depth.
A good therapeutic outcome will always depend upon the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client.

Appointments are usually weekly and sometimes twice weekly depending upon need. This work requires a significant commitment from both parties.

Ruth works with people of all ages. couples and families.

My practice is based in The Nautilus Rooms,Totnes, Newton Abbot,Teignmouth, and Torquay.
Give Ruth a ring to discuss your requirements on:
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Some of the issues Ruth works with:

  • relationship and intimacy issues
  • a loss of desire
  • sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse
  • stress, anxiety, depression and panic
  • chronic health conditions
  • deep unhappiness
  • trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
  • life transitions
  • bereavement and loss
  • low self confidence
  • child raising issues
  • infertility
  • addiction: drug, alcohol gambling, sex etc.
  • eating disorders
  • abortion
  • trauma
  • self-harm
  • work related stress
  • boarding school issues
  • aggression and anger management
  • gender and sexuality
  • medically unexplained symptoms
  • spiritual crisis
  • crisis of identity, meaning, isolation, fear of death
  • personal growth
  • couples counselling
  • affairs and betrayals
  • separation and divorce 
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