Dialogical Psychotherapy with Merivan Coles
Merivan Coles, MSc., Ph. D., MBACP(Accred), Reg. UKRCLocation: South Kensington--5 minutes' walk from either Gloucester Road or Earls Court Road underground stations.
Tel: 0207 373 3539
I call what I offer "dialogical" because I think psychotherapy/counselling is a dialogue, or should be, a conversation about difficulties in living, whether they are with yourself or with your relationships. I can't promise talking will help, but I think it should always be tried, if you are not getting anywhere on your own. Talking with a therapist is a kind of conversation which may be useful in more ways than you expected.
How long does it take? That depends partly on the problem and partly on the individual. I like to see a new person twice, initially (though if you know at once you don't want to come again, of course I shan't hold you to this --)-- two sessions, spaced, gives us both time to think about what came up, whether talking like this will be useful for you, and whether we think we can work together.
By the end of the second of those two sessions some people feel that they’re OK now—they’ve told their story, they’ve had an opportunity to think over what was said by each of us at our first meeting, then at the second a chance to compare notes, expand or revise this or that--and nothing more is wanted; that's very satisfying for both of us.
Or we may decide to have a certain number of weekly sessions--again, that will depend upon the nature of the problem and the sort of person you are. Hardly anyone nowadays wants open-ended long-term therapy, and in fact I've stopped offering it, except serially (for example 6 sessions followed by a break of 6 or more weeks before another 6).
Counselling/therapy is about freedom, about becoming free to do and be what you want to do and be, having discovered what it is you really want, and having considered your resources.
Psychological techies may like to know that I'm an object relations therapist, with a strong interest in self-psychology and attachment theory. And it's £55 per session, £75 for a couple.
Site updated 18 April 2008
