Curlew Counselling - Counselling Sessions in
Barnard Castle, Teesdale and County Durham
Clare Finn
What counselling sessions are like
“Therapy begins when you feel safe enough to be fully yourself.”
What counselling sessions are like
At Curlew Counselling, sessions take place in the form of face-to-face, online or walk-and-talk – the choice is yours, but all sessions follow a similar format and contain the same core elements – a safe and confidential space to explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences at a pace which suits you.
The building of the therapeutic relationship is core to this, and within this, there are 3 main elements that I actively promote within my practice:
The building of the therapeutic relationship is core to this, and within this, there are 3 main elements that I actively promote within my practice:
- Empathy - my willingness to see your problem through your eyes, not mine, to understand and share your feelings.
- Non‑judgement - I will accept you without making any judgements, criticism or assumptions.
- Honesty - I will aim to be as real and as honest with you as I can.
The Therapeutic Relationship
The relationship between counsellor and client is at the heart of effective therapy. At Curlew Counselling, a strong therapeutic connection built on trust helps you explore your thoughts and feelings, understand your experiences more deeply, and find your own way through current challenges. I support you in developing strategies and techniques that can help you both now and in the future.
Confidentiality
Everything you share with me is treated with confidentiality. This means it will not be repeated outside the counselling space. There are only rare, exceptional circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken — for example, if I believe you are at risk of serious harm, or if someone else may be in danger. In such situations, I have a duty of care to act to keep you and others safe. If confidentiality ever needs to be discussed outside the session,I will aim to talk with you first and involve you in the process wherever possible.
The Integrative Counselling Approach
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of psychological approaches — including Person‑Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This allows me to tailor the work to your individual needs.
Together, we may explore:
The relationship between counsellor and client is at the heart of effective therapy. At Curlew Counselling, a strong therapeutic connection built on trust helps you explore your thoughts and feelings, understand your experiences more deeply, and find your own way through current challenges. I support you in developing strategies and techniques that can help you both now and in the future.
Confidentiality
Everything you share with me is treated with confidentiality. This means it will not be repeated outside the counselling space. There are only rare, exceptional circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken — for example, if I believe you are at risk of serious harm, or if someone else may be in danger. In such situations, I have a duty of care to act to keep you and others safe. If confidentiality ever needs to be discussed outside the session,I will aim to talk with you first and involve you in the process wherever possible.
The Integrative Counselling Approach
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of psychological approaches — including Person‑Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This allows me to tailor the work to your individual needs.
Together, we may explore:
- How past experiences influence your thoughts, feelings and behaviours today.
- What is happening for you in the present, and what do you want to change.
- How you envision your future and the steps that support that direction.
What is the format?
Sessions are 60 minutes and are shaped around your needs. We usually begin by gently reflecting on your week and anything you’d like to bring into the space. If we’ve identified areas you want to explore during our initial meeting, we’ll weave these into the session too.
I work holistically, so part of our time may involve learning techniques to support your day‑to‑day emotional wellbeing. This might include grounding meditations, guided visualisations, art‑based therapeutic activities, breathing exercises, or other approaches that help you feel more resourced. I may set ‘homework’, which is usually to practise techniques, so they become integral to how you manage future situations as they arise.
In the final 15 minutes, we avoid introducing anything new. This quieter phase allows us to check in with where you are, gently settle the session, and ensure you feel safe and steady before leaving the room.'
Curlew Counselling
A Journey of Personal Growth & Healing
