Why counselling is like gardening!

To me, counselling has a very organic approach, much like gardening, and in case you're thinking 'but I hate gardening! I'm not going to that weirdo!' don't worry it is just how I view the counselling process.

For example, if you plant a seed in the ground, then come back and look at it every hour, you will not see much growth, in fact you might actually feel pretty unimpressed, or even a bit angry at its lack of progress! 

But if you plant the seed then get on with your life, with its myriad of distractions, but at a later date then find yourself in the garden, and might suddenly notice some unexpected growth...That things have changed.

'Woah look at that! Where did that come from? Well I'll be...I thought that plant would never sprout!...Look at that flourishing in spite of being uprooted...so resilient!'

This is how I view counselling, as steady consistant change, achieved through steady consistant work on a regular weekly basis.  My role as your counsellor is to create the right environment for you to grow and change in, just as a gardener creates the right growing environment in the garden.  This is what I strive to help create, this self-realisation, the  "fulfillment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality"

"The personal resources used by a counsellor help define their own unique style as a helper"

(John McLeod, 2011, Counselling Skills)