Renate James, Change Counselling Service

General information

As you’re reading this, chances are you’re researching counsellors and you’ll have come across a wide variety of counselling methods and disciplines across Winchester, Romsey, and Salisbury already. Research (International Review of Psychiatry, December 2008; 20(6): 521–526) shows the relationship with the counsellor is more important than the method of counselling. The relationship that develops between counsellor and client is central to the therapeutic work. It is the quality of the therapeutic relationship that offers the possibility for healing, insight and change.

My method of counselling is focussed on a Humanistic approach called Transactional Analysis, a highly sophisticated method, and is also one of the most accessible and easy to follow theories of modern psychology. I also incorporate elements from Person Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Everyone is different. As more and more research is done into counselling and psychotherapy, it is constantly shown that no one method is sufficient. I will adapt the approach to you – you will not be squeezed into any one way of working.


Key ideas of my approach:

Respect for all: I’m OK – You’re OK. I believe the innate goodness, decency, and the right to be respected by others is easy when we feel they deserve help and a better deal in life.

Personal responsibility: Self-responsibility is the exercising of power – the power of choice. The choice is to accept that whilst neither external circumstances nor other people can be controlled, we can change our own inner experience. We do not have to feel according to the old ways. We do not have to respond like those we have taken as role models. We can choose responses that are genuine and fit our current lifestyle and who we are today. Ultimately discovering peace of mind founded on experiencing the randomness of life’s joys and pains and emerge intact with a keen sense of self, feeling satisfied to be who we are.

I truly believe Change is possible: It is usually possible to bring about therapeutic change providing – the client is motivated; the therapist is using the right approach; the goals are realistic; the environment offers enough support.

I am affiliated, endorsed and listed with the following organisations:
BACP Register and Directory
Counselling Directory
RSCPP
Counselling Pages