THERAPY WITH MICHAEL
A confidential & supportive space in South London to help you reach your highest potential.
WHO I AM AND WHAT I OFFER
Counselling & therapy for adults in South London and beyond.
My name is Michael O’Connor and I am a registered MBACP Counsellor.
I believe the transformation that can happen within Counselling can be life-changing. When you learn how to open up, share and reflect on the inner workings of your world with someone, amazing things can happen. With the support of the right professional, you can understand, process and overcome the things that have seemed insurmountable for so long.
I have been helping people with addiction issues since 2001. However, my strong belief in the Counselling process prompted me to retrain and become a fully qualified Counsellor. This journey has allowed me to build out my skillset beyond working with addiction and I’m now in a position to help people with a diverse range of problems.
I work face-to-face in Balham and the wider south London area. I can also work with you remotely (on Zoom or over the phone), as well as providing a walk-and-talk service in local parks.
I don’t underestimate how big, and sometimes daunting, the decision to seek support is for my clients. People come to Counselling with me from all walks of life, and it’s my passion to help them work through their challenges and reach their full potential.
MY APPROACH
As an Integrative Counsellor, I am trained in several different approaches to working with mental health and wellness. Once I understand more about what it’s like to be you, and what’s going on for you right now, I will use the combination of techniques and interventions that I believe will be of most help. I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and abide by their code of ethics in all that I do.
I break my approach down into 3 phases:
1/ RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Knowing how important it is, I take the time to build a strong client-therapist relationship in all my work.
I won’t judge you and I won’t push you into sharing certain things before you’re ready. I’ll summarise and reflect what I think I’m hearing about your experiences and I’ll offer insights I think might be helpful in your process of change.
2/ IDENTIFYING THEMES, CHALLENGES AND GOALS
From our newly built strong foundation, we can explore what’s getting in the way of you living the way you want to.
I believe strongly that our childhoods play a massive part in shaping who we have become as adults. The relationships that we had, or didn't have, with our caregivers can have long-lasting effects; shaping how we respond to the world and the people in our lives.
By taking a look back we will have the chance to spot patterns, challenge internalised beliefs and prepare to try and change the story.
3/ WORKING THROUGH
With the path laid out ahead of us, we can set off on the journey of change.
Part of that work will be working together to open the doors to uncomfortable things that have been hidden from sight until now.
I will support you in embracing/facing whatever comes up for you. Often it is a process of acknowledging what may have been too hard to understand ‘back then’, how those things affect you now and working on accepting the parts of yourself you’ve denied or repressed.
People come to me for help with a wide range of issues.
Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Abuse
Depression
Stress
Confidence & self-esteem
Anger management
Issues around sexuality
Life transitions
Problems with family or school life
YOU CAN SPEAK IN CONFIDENCE
Counselling with me is a safe space, wherever it takes place. I am committed to listening to you with sensitivity and without judgement, so thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely and in confidence.
GIVING YOU THE TOOLS FOR CHANGE
Counselling with me helps you build confidence in your resilience and coping abilities. We work together to build out a set of tools you can use to not only identify challenges in your life but also work towards managing or resolving them.
YOU CAN MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES
You don’t need to repeat the same patterns again and again. I can work with you to understand why you act and react the way you do. Becoming more aware of your patterns allows a bit of breathing room between the trigger and your reaction, so you can start to think about making better & healthier choices moving forward.
CONTACT ME
I understand thinking about Counselling can feel daunting and that many people have questions. I am always happy to discuss any queries you might have ahead of booking an appointment (I also have some FAQs at the bottom of this page).
You can email me, call me on 07709 341153 or send a message using the form below.
I try to respond to all messages within 48hrs.
FEES & SESSIONS
I work face-to-face from spaces in Balham and the wider south London area. I can also work with you remotely (on Zoom or over the phone), as well as providing a walk-and-talk service in local parks.
My fee is £65 per 50-minute session.
I recommend a commitment of 6 counselling sessions at a time with a review at the end of each block. A block of 6 sessions booked together is discounted to £350 (a saving of £40).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions.
Psychotherapy (or 'therapy') goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.
Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing.
How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person-to-person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing.
Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.
My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availability. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availability of that free ‘slot’.
Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find this freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.
Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, or where the law requires that I notify an authority about something you've shared; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.
I understand having someone else with you might feel appealing, especially if you feel anxious about what Counselling might be like. However, I don't see clients accompanied by friends or family.
This is because a key part of therapy is you feeling free to talk about any and all issues that are important to you and having someone else with you (who might be connected to those issues) might make opening-up honestly more difficult.
© Michael O'Connor
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