Welcome to Dare Mason Psychotherapy and Counselling
There are times in our lives, often prompted by events such as bereavement, the break up of a relationship or changing life circumstances, that make us ask questions such as :
- why is this happening to me?
- why do I feel this way?
- how can I cope with this?
- what can I do to change for the better?
If you find yourself in such a position, take heart. You are on the road to self-discovery. Socrates said “A life unexamined is a wasted life”. By asking the ‘big’ questions, you are taking the first steps to ‘examine’ your life.
As a counsellor, I will walk alongside you as you undertake this journey. My role will be to listen, to empathise and to empower you to move forward. I am an integrative therapist which means that I have knowledge of different tools and techniques to help you in therapy. I will tailor my approach to suit you and your unique circumstances. Some of the protocols and models I use are :
- Internal Family Systems
- Transactional Analysis
- DBT
- Art Therapy
- visualisation
Over the years I have helped clients with a wide range of issues including :
- relationship difficulties
- depression
- anxiety
- personality ‘disorders’ such as ADHD, Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, OCD etc
- trauma, including PTSD
- bereavement
- addiction
- anger issues
In an atmosphere of safety, trust and openness there will be a space to talk and to unburden as well as to explore, to work imaginatively and, not least, to celebrate.
I work with young people, adults and elderly people on an individual basis.
Click on Services to find out more.
"When a person is encouraged to get in touch with and express his/her deepest feelings in the secure knowledge that he/she will not be rejected, criticised or expected to be different, some sort of rearrangement or sorting out process occurs within the mind which brings with it a sense of peace ; a sense that the depths of the well of truth have really been reached".
Anthony Storr - psychoanalyst
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy make no distinction between the two. So if you are looking for counselling, you are on the right page!
What do I talk about?
This is your therapy, you are in charge so you can talk about whatever you wish. Remember, everything you say in therapy is confidential so there are no limits. The inhibitions that you have around talking about your thoughts, feelings, fears, wishes etc to your friends and family need not apply in the safe environment of the therapy room.
Will you give me advice?
As a rule, no. I encourage you to explore your issues while I listen attentively and with empathy. I will encourage you to find your own insights and resolution because they will mean more to you than if I impose mine on you. However, I may ask you questions, I may signpost you to books or videos and I may even challenge you if appropriate.
Do you use any tools or techniques?
I have been trained to use a number of tools and techniques. These include breathing techniques, visualisation, art therapy and so on. Most of the time we shall be talking but we may use these other methods if they are helpful and if you are comfortable with them.
What will I get from therapy?
The answer is, it’s really up to you and how much energy you put into it. We would all love the counsellor to wave a magic wand and all our problems disappear. However, the clients who make the quickest progress continue the therapy between appointments. By this, I mean they reflect on the session and what they spoke about, they notice their behaviour and their thoughts and feelings in between the sessions and they may also do research into their condition.
How long will it take?
There is no simple answer to this question. It depends on so many factors – the complexity of the issue, your ability and willingness to work both in and out of the therapy room, your home and work environment, your stage of development in life, to name a few!
I have met people who had seemingly acute problems in their lives. Yet within half a dozen sessions they had recovered to such a degree that therapy was no longer necessary. I have seen young teenagers who simply needed a mature adult to listen to them with respect and interest. They often leave after one or two sessions.
Other people need more time to express their fears and worries, explore their origins and develop new ways of thinking and behaving.
Therapy is an alchemical process – a transformation from the not-self to the self. In other words it’s a process of becoming one’s own authentic self without the imposed beliefs and behaviours that we learned when we were young in order to survive our childhood situation. This process is mystical and has its own time frame. In the same way as a farmer cannot make his crop grow quicker by pulling at the stem, we cannot hurry our own growth.