Spiritual Counselling

Spiritual Counselling is a holistic and integrative form of counselling that works with the whole person: mind, body, soul and spirit. It combines talking therapy with a range of therapeutic approaches, allowing the counselling to be shaped around the individual rather than following one fixed model.

There are many reasons you might come to counselling. You may be dealing with anxiety, relationship difficulties, bereavement or a major change in your life. Perhaps years of difficult experiences are catching up with you, or there is something from your past that you haven’t been able to move beyond. You may feel overwhelmed, stuck or no longer quite like yourself. We begin with what is happening for you and what you need help with, then allow the work to develop from there.

I qualified as a Spiritual Counsellor in 2015 after substantial training in counselling theory and therapeutic practice, including how to assess and work with a wide range of emotional and psychological issues and explore the experiences, relationships and patterns that shape how people think, feel and respond. I am accredited with the Complementary Medical Association (CMA). Since qualifying, I have undertaken further training in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy and other trauma-informed approaches, developing my ability to work safely and sensitively when trauma or other complex experiences are part of what a client brings.

Being a Spiritual Counsellor doesn’t mean you need to be spiritual or have any particular beliefs to work with me. I won’t automatically interpret something as spiritual or energetic simply because those things are part of my wider practice. Equally, if spirituality is important to you, there is room for that too.

How we work together

Our sessions are collaborative. I’ll be actively engaged with you, asking questions, clarifying things and sharing what I’m noticing when it feels helpful. I’m not there simply to listen, but to help you explore and work through whatever you’re dealing with.

As the counselling develops, we may look at other areas of your life that are relevant to what brought you here. This might include past experiences, relationships or circumstances in your life that have affected you.

You can be open with me, knowing that what you share will be treated with care, respect and confidentiality. Where difficult or traumatic experiences are involved, we’ll go gently and at a pace that feels right for you, mindful of what feels manageable at the time.

Sometimes talking about something isn’t enough on its own. Where appropriate, I may draw on other therapeutic approaches to help you work with what is coming up more directly. These might involve the body or nervous system, imagery or other experiential approaches, depending on what we’re working with and what would be most helpful for you.

What you take from counselling will be personal to you. It may help you understand yourself more fully, come to terms with things that have happened, feel less overwhelmed by what you’re carrying or become clearer about what you want and need. Ultimately, the hope is that our work helps you feel more able to move forward with your life, rather than feeling held back by the things that led you to seek support in the first place.

Starting counselling

Starting counselling can feel a little daunting, particularly if you haven’t done anything like this before or aren’t quite sure where to begin.

If you’re thinking about working with me, the first step is to get in touch by email and tell me a little about yourself and what has prompted you to consider counselling. I’ll reply personally and we can have a brief exchange to see whether I may be able to help. If I don’t think I’m the right person for you, I’ll let you know and, where possible, may be able to refer you to a more suitable practitioner.

The next step is an assessment. This gives us time to talk in more depth about what has been happening and what you would like help with. It’s also an opportunity for you to get a sense of me and how I work, and for both of us to decide whether we would like to continue.

If we decide to go ahead, I usually recommend meeting weekly or fortnightly, depending on the level of support you need. There is no predetermined number of sessions. We’ll review this together as the work progresses.

If it becomes clear at any point that you need support outside my scope of practice, I’ll be open with you about that and may recommend another appropriately qualified professional.

Sessions are 60 minutes long and take place online via Zoom. The assessment and all ongoing sessions are £85 per appointment.

Get in touch

If you’d like to explore whether counselling with me might be right for you, you’re very welcome to get in touch at kanina@yournaturalself.co.uk