Sometimes people come to therapy not to address a particular problem, but to support their personal growth.
Being in ongoing counselling for self-development can be incredibly valuable. Without a specific problem to focus on, there is space to be curious about what makes you happy, how you get what you need in life, why you relate to others in the way you do, what you want for the future, and so on.
There are many ways to engage in self-development work on your own, such as reading self-help books or keeping a journal. These are very valuable, but there is something unique about counselling: the eyes of the therapist.
As a trained professional, your therapist will notice things that may be blind spots to you. They will experience how you are in a relationship with them, and be able to reflect back any patterns they might spot to you.
Often when we work on ourselves, we lack compassion. We set unrealistic goals and then beat ourselves up or give up when we don’t meet them. Self-development counselling helps you to be more realistic and compassionate towards yourself, supporting you to make sustainable, long-term progress.
How does self-development counselling help?
It is a wonderful feeling, to sense that you are growing and improving: learning new behaviours, seeing yourself more clearly, and dropping bad habits.
It can be scary too. When we have blind spots, they are blind for a reason! Self-development counselling can involve facing uncomfortable truths about yourself. But if you believe that knowing these things, so that you can choose what to do about them, is better than them remaining unconscious, self-development counselling could be for you.
Some people worry that, without a problem to focus on, they won’t know what to talk about and the sessions will be full of silence. That’s not the case. Your past experiences and your everyday life will provide you with plenty to discuss.
Taking the next step
If you are unsure whether self-development counselling is for you, book an initial consultation with one of our therapists to find out more. This is an opportunity to discuss what you are looking for and to assess whether the therapist will be able to help you. There is no obligation to continue if it doesn’t feel like the right fit for you.
Each person is unique and our therapists offer a number of different approaches to support you in the way that works best for you. If you know what type of therapy you prefer, you can find out which of our therapists offer it by reading their profiles. If you’re unsure, you may like to book an integrative therapist, as they use a range of different approaches, so can adapt to suit you. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
One of our counsellors would love to support your personal growth
Meet our therapists working with with personal self-development
