| Have you ever decided to make a major change | | | | But how easy is it to start sharing our plans or |
| in your life, a change that you feel totally | | | | goals with the people in our lives, especially when |
| committed to making, only to find after a few | | | | confidence seems in short supply? |
| weeks, days or perhaps only hours, all your good | | | | Counsellors and therapists are in a unique position. |
| intentions have been scuttled and you are back to | | | | We expect the people who consult with us to be |
| where you were? | | | | somewhat vulnerable, stuck or lost. So our |
| Perhaps you have made a New Years Resolution | | | | professional responsibility to maintain confidentiality |
| and decided to stop smoking, limit drinking or take | | | | can provide just enough of a lift to confidence to |
| up a new fitness routine? Maybe you took a | | | | encourage people to share their stories. |
| decision to look for new job or rewrite your CV | | | | Modern technology and the Internet have taken |
| or ask a certain special person out on a date? | | | | this one step further. Now it is possible to meet |
| Many people have had, at various times, goals | | | | with a counsellor online in comfort and privacy. For |
| that they have struggled to achieve or plans that | | | | many people, online counselling is easier and |
| appeared to come to nothing. When I ask people | | | | requires less confidence than meeting with a |
| what holds them back in life, they often tell me it | | | | counsellor or therapist in person. For example, |
| is a lack of confidence, or shyness or not having | | | | webcam counselling sessions are a lot simpler to |
| ‘self esteem’ or something similar. | | | | attend because you don’t need to travel to |
| So what can you do if the changes you want to | | | | an office, park the car or sit in a waiting room! |
| make just seem too overwhelming? | | | | Instant messaging provides a higher level of |
| Research conducted by the University of | | | | privacy with the benefit of a written record of |
| Hertfordshire shows that keeping a diary, breaking | | | | the session. Similarly, email counselling allows you |
| up goals into smaller steps, rewarding yourself and | | | | to write in your own time. Motivation can come |
| focusing on your success can all contribute to | | | | and go, so it can be helpful to write when it is at |
| making plans and goals come to fruition. | | | | its highest. |
| Another factor is telling others about these | | | | Confidence grows when we are encouraged to |
| resolutions. This is something that counsellors and | | | | talk about what we want and supported to |
| therapists can confirm often works wonders. | | | | believe changes are possible. Online counselling is |
| Hearing ourselves speak about what we are doing | | | | effective because no matter how much shyness |
| and having an audience to our plans and dreams | | | | or how little confidence is around, you can make a |
| can be like talking them into existence. It is a very | | | | start. And that’s the beginning of change. |
| powerful strategy in making change! | | | | |