How are you......REALLY?
It's often hard for us to answer this question truthfully and honestly. Perhaps because:
Time for an Introduction
Hi, I'm Anjali Leverton and having worked in the "talking therapies " field since 2017, I firmly believe that speaking, in confidence, to a qualified and experienced Counsellor like myself can help you to understand why you are struggling and how you'd like life to be different going forward.
The support I offer consists of relaxed individual therapy sessions. This is your time to talk about whatever's on your mind, in a safe and calm environment, where there's no judgement from me.
I'm able to do this through my training and experience where I adapt my way of working to ensure that you have the supportive space you need to explore what you're finding difficult and why that might be the case. For example, do you prefer gentle questions or is being challenged more your thing? Either way, "you're in the driving seat" as we work together to address your needs.
Often, we can find ourselves facing a reality that's different to what we planned, perhaps because of low self-esteem or confidence or sometimes as a result of circumstances where you might be dealing with a life altering illness of your own or a loved one or other changes that you had no control over e.g. redundancy or bereavement.
Reaching out for help and support when this is case can feel difficult but you've taken the first step and I assure you that help is out there; you don’t have to do this alone .
Am I the right Counsellor for you?
As well as working privately I also work as a Counsellor for a national cancer charity at a local NHS Hospital. In that role, I've worked effectively with issues such as: anxiety, stress, depression, loss through bereavement or changes in health, low self esteem and confidence as well as relationship issues.
Being naturally open minded and sensitive to the needs of others, I'm able to understand your issues from your point of view and use my skills and theoretical training to offer you a different perspective on your difficulties, which in turn, can support you in achieving the outcomes that you're looking for though these will, of course, be unique to you.
You feeling comfortable in working with me, is hugely important so I've included more information about me and my way of working on the following pages but you're also very welcome to get in touch if you have any other questions.
What's important to you?
My own experiences as well as my work with clients, has shown me how our lives and achievements can be limited by what we believe others expect of us and the stereotypes and labels we often adopt without even realising. For example, as a child did you have a picture of what your life would look like when you were 30? Will it/has it lived up to those expectations?
For others, these expectations can be thrust up on us either because of the way we look, because of our upbringing, because of illness, or because of sexual orientation to name but a few but whatever the reason, these labels and stereotypes can end up taking over to the point that you might have lost sight of yourself. For example, feeling defined by your illness or in being recently bereaved, feeling increasingly concerned about what you "should be doing" rather than "what you need or want to be doing".
If this is the case, we would work together to challenge these limitations and understand your own measures of success and how you would like your life to look and feel.
Help with Managing Anxiety - Health and Other
It's important to remember that we all experience anxiety at some time or other. This is because, in its most basic form, it is our body’s way of keeping us safe from harm when we feel threatened. However for some of us, anxious thoughts and feelings might be getting in the way of every day life.
Currently, there will be many of us experiencing health anxiety in the face of Covid -19, currently a huge unknown for us. But we might have a similar reaction to other health scares where what is happening to our body feels out of our control e.g. finding a breast lump or having an operation. The reason for this is that our body sees the health scare as a threat to well-being, and in doing so, an anxiety response is triggered as our body tries to keep us safe.
If anxiety is something that you struggle with I can work with you to help you to recognise an anxious response and understand why it might have been triggered. We might also look at techniques or strategies to help you manage the anxious feelings as well as the negative thought patterns that often accompany anxiety and add "fuel to its fire". Whilst we can't get rid of anxiety completely, by working together in this way can help to make your anxiety look and feel more manageable.
Get in Touch
I know that getting in touch may feel daunting and that you might be hoping that the difficult feelings will pass, but, if you feel that you could benefit from speaking with someone who won't judge, please do just pick up the phone or drop me an email . I'm very happy to answer any questions and to help you get the support that is right for you.
