If you've never experienced counselling before, you might wonder what actually happens. Perhaps you imagine a counsellor giving you advice, telling you what to do, or providing solutions to your problems.

Person-centred counselling is different.

It's about giving you the space to explore what's happening in your life — your thoughts, feelings, experiences and the things you may be struggling to make sense of — without judgement and without someone else deciding where the conversation should go.

There's no pressure to talk about anything before you're ready. You can go at your own pace and focus on what feels important to you.

I sometimes think of it as you steering your own ship. You decide where we're going; my role isn't to take the wheel, but to travel alongside you, helping you explore and understand what you encounter along the way.

Over time, that exploration can help you develop a greater understanding of yourself, recognise patterns and find your own way forward.

After all, you are the expert on your own life.