Jason Adams, counsellor and Gestalt therapist based in Glasgow.

Welcome to my website.

You may be wondering if counselling and psychotherapy is right for you. I hope that this website can help you and also give a sense of who I am and how I work.

Choosing the right counsellor and psychotherapist can be a daunting task. Research evidence indicates that the most important factor in ensuring the best outcome for a client is the quality of the therapeutic relationship with the counsellor and feeling as though they have connected with him or her.

Therefore, I encourage you to look around, take your time and talk to various counsellors and psychotherapists before finally deciding on who is best suited for you.

Why counselling & psychotherapy?

Many people come for counselling and psychotherapy and the reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves.

There is a perception that counselling and psychotherapy is solely for people who are in severe emotional distress or who suffer from mental illness and for such people it can be very effective.

However, it is often used by people who wish to further their self development and increase their personal growth. Essentially, people come for counselling and psychotherapy when life has become difficult and challenging or when they want to change and improve the way they live their life.

My Profile

Originally I trained in science and graduated with an Honours Degree in Physics in 1992. However, I soon realised I did not wish to pursue a career in that field. I enjoy working with people; getting to know them and helping them make positive changes in their lives. It is for that reason I entered into counselling.

I have worked in the care sector since 1996 as a Residential Worker, Social Worker and Counsellor. I have worked with a diverse range of client groups such as those affected by homelessness or substance misuse, young sex offenders, children, young people, families, groups and individuals experiencing mental health issues. Since 2005 I have been employed as a family worker and currently work in Glasgow.

I also assess and supervise social work students.

I have a Diploma in Gestalt Therapy which involved four years of training in counselling and psychotherapy. I initially started practicing as a counsellor at the Tom Allan Centre in 2007 before establishing my own practice. I am a member of the Gestalt Psychotherapy and Training Institute (GPTI) and British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). I adhere to their ethical code of practice.

I am committed to ongoing personal and professional development to ensure a high standard of therapeutic practice. For example, I have attended workshops on such topics as Attachment Style Interviewing, Body Process, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Life Coaching. Furthermore, I have experience of using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy methods, Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Therapy. I can use these techniques, where appropriate, to enhance the therapeutic process.

In addition, I regularly attend supervision to ensure that the quality of my work is consistently professional, effective and of a high standard.

I work from two locations in Glasgow:

40 Kelvingrove Street,
Glasgow G3 7RZ
in the West End
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34 West George Street,
Glasgow,
Lanarkshire
in the City Centre
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Registered with Counselling Directory

I work in Glasgow and my counselling services are within easy travelling distance of; Airdrie, Ayrshire,  Bearsden Bellshill, Bishopbriggs, Clydebank, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Dumbartonshire, East Kilbride, Falkirk, Greenock, Hamilton, Inverclyde, Kirkintilloch, Lanarkshire, Lenzie, Motherwell, Milngavie, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Stirling , Wishaw

What to expect

Gestalt psychotherapy theory tells us that our thoughts, feelings, emotions and body sensations are all connected.

I will work holistically with you within these Gestalt principles. I can help you become aware of how these facets of your person are related and connected. Hopefully you will notice how change in one area of your person and life can change and influence others. Therefore, psychological well-being can also translate into emotional and physical vitality.

The benefits of counselling and psychotherapy work include

• Improved self-awareness
• A greater sense of wellbeing
• Raised self-esteem and confidence
• A more positive outlook
• Improved relationships
• Increased creativity

The length of time of therapy will vary from individual to individual and initially you may not be aware of how long the process may take. However, it can vary from brief therapy (a few weeks) to longer term psychotherapeutic work (a few years) and will depend upon your targets for change. These can be negotiated between you and I at the start of our work together. However, regardless of the length of therapy, you can expect regular reviews of our work together to ensure that it is continually tailored to your needs.

Depending upon your needs there may be an initial period of assessment which will include us getting to know one another, taking a brief history of your current issues and together identifying areas for change in your life. It is important to realise I cannot tell you what areas to change, this is your therapy and you decide the direction. Nevertheless, by working together over time you may gain a clearer understanding of what and how you want to change.

I provide a safe, confidential space for you to talk, explore, heal and grow. It is my role to help you understand areas of difficulty, gain relief from present symptoms and develop the resources to cope now and in the future. I will listen attentively, respectfully and carefully. I will endeavour to view and understand life from your perspective.

Nevertheless, as confidence and trust between us develops I may gently and sensitively challenge you or bring to your awareness areas which are difficult or painful. This shall only be done facilitate change, help you develop your own new solutions and always at a pace you are comfortable with.

I am an interactive and reflective practitioner and clients have often described my style as gentle, challenging, caring and supportive.

Who I work with

I strongly believe in anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice. I am keenly aware of how difference can affect the therapeutic relationship between client and counsellor.

Therefore, my services are available to all regardless of age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or social background.

I work with individuals, couples and families. In certain circumstances I may work with children and young people. However, when I work with children and young people I fully expect the parent, carer or guardian to be part of the therapeutic process at some point.

I also work with people referred for counselling by their employer.

Below is a list of the areas of counselling which I work with:

• abuse
• addiction
• affairs and betrayals
• alcohol misuse
• anger management
• anxiety
• attachment issues
• bereavement
• bipolar disorder
• borderline personality disorder
• bullying
• career counselling
• child related issues
• couple counselling, depression
• domestic violence
• eating disorders
• emotional abuse
• family counselling
• family planning and fertility issues
• gambling
• generalised anxiety issues
• low self confidence
• low self-esteem
• miscarriage
• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
• panic attacks
• phobias
• physical abuse
• postnatal depression
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• reactive attachment disorder (RAD)
• relationship issues
• schizoid personality disorder
• schizotypal personality disorder
• self-harm
• separation and divorce
• sexual abuse
• sexual issues
• sexuality
• smoking
• stress
• substance misuse
• trauma
• work related issues.

Questions,
myths & fears

Counselling will completely change my personality.

Don’t worry, I can’t and won’t do that. Counselling is not about taking away qualities and behaviours that you already possess, it’s about adding to them. Until now your behaviours, thoughts and feelings have held you in good stead. If they hadn’t you wouldn’t have learned them to get by in whatever environment you grew up in. They will remain with you. However, counselling can offer you different options in how to think, feel and act. Then you can choose how you wish to respond to a given situation either with a new method you have found works or an old one. You will be more in control of your life and feel less a victim.

Counselling and psychotherapy costs a fortune.

Counselling and psychotherapy can and does cost a lot but not just in monetary terms. It costs time and it also requires effort. Psychotherapists and counsellors cannot do your work for you. Indeed, I can only facilitate you to do the psychological work that you want to do. Ultimately the amount you spend and the emotional and psychological investment you make in the counselling process is entirely up to you.

Depression is a chemical imbalance that is best treated with medicine.

This is indeed true for some types of mental illness. Furthermore, it may be useful to speak with a GP to discuss the possibility of being prescribed medication before you start therapy. In addition, some people use therapy to support them come off anti-depressants. However, counselling may sometimes reach the parts that medication can’t.

There is no point in going over the past – it’s best to forget it and move on.

I agree there is no point in going round in circles. This is what we often do when we don’t have the support in place to make changes and examine our fixed patterns. Counselling is like making a map – it can give you a different perspective, shows you the lie of the land, shows dangers and pitfalls, highlights opportunities and illustrates the same old routes that we just keep following. Ultimately though, the map does not tell you where to go, it just shows you the possibilities so you don’t have to keep going round in circles.

I might feel stupid

It’s common for people to feel stupid, anxious, awkward or scared when they first attend therapy. To be honest, it’s a normal and understandable response, particularly if it is the first time they have attended counselling or therapy. Undertaking counselling is a unique endeavour and experience where someone will give you their full attention. I hope that if you take the risk you will notice the benefits in time.

You are going to ‘psychoanalyse’ me, learn all my darkest secrets and judge me

The first part of the statement suggests a “doing to” by me the “expert” rather than a “working with” as me the counsellor. Secondly, and unfortunately, I am not a mind reader although it is a skill I wish I had! I won’t know what’s going on for you until you tell me. However, I notice body posture and movement, facial expressions and changes in voice patterns. When we link these things together with your thoughts, feelings and emotions then we will be undertaking therapeutic work.

Also, if you feel that I am judging you, blaming you or ridiculing you then tell me. It certainly not what I would intend, nor should it be what a competent counsellor does.

I am of course bound by a code of ethics and code of conduct and any complaints can be directed to the relevant governing body –BACP or GPTI.

Fees

£40 per session is my standard rate for individual or couple counselling

£30 per session for students, unwaged, unemployed and retired clients

Each session lasts 50 minutes and usually occurs weekly. Weekend and evening appointments are available.

You can pay by cash or cheque at each session.

I offer a FREE initial 30 minute introductory session where you can ask questions, clarify issues, decide if therapy is suitable for you and determine if I am the correct person to work with you.

Useful Links

http://www.bacp.co.uk

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk

http://www.theconsultingrooms.com

http://www.cpdirectory.com

http://edinburgh-gestalt-institute.moonfruit.com

http://www.gpti.org.uk

http://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/

Contact Me

If you are interested in working with me then contact me at

Email: enquiries@jasonadamscounselling.co.uk

Tel: 07413209251