Using my skills to help

How I use my skills to help people to help themselves

Hello! I’m Clare, and I’m a therapist (or counsellor) by day. I help other people work through the tough times. Life for everyone has its ups and down; we can’t be happy all of the time; but sometimes people struggle a little bit more.

There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with people who come to therapy – I don’t ‘label’ people. It’s about understanding their point of view, seeing the world and their problems through their eyes. And then helping them find their own solutions. First and foremost, it’s about giving people that space to talk, without judgment, to find their answers.

So what I do really is to help people to help themselves, and I try to do a bit of this outside of work, too.  I volunteer by taking individuals or groups of people outside into nature to make connections with others and to realise the healing power of greenspaces for themselves.

I also set up a ‘Grief Group’ in a local church with another therapist. Grieving looks different to everyone, but the one thing that unites everyone is that when people experience the death of a loved one, we all need each other. No one should grieve alone. And now members of the group are running it to help others too.

These, alongside picking up the odd dog poo on my morning walk, is how I give back. They’re just a few things, but I think they make a big difference.

Clare Abbotts, Counsellor and Therapist from Rough Close, near Stone.