Maintaining therapy in the heat of summer - Article for the Eastern Daily Press

This blog formed the basis of an excerpt taken for the Eastern Daily Press Wellbeing Feature as part of the Feel Good Norfolk Collective contribution on 18th July 2022.

Tips for a healthier summer... a perspective from an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist

Positive counselling experiences rely, amongst other things, on a client's commitment to the therapy process which can be difficult to maintain during the summer period when there are often extra demands on our time. Whether it’s additional child care, social events, holidays, or seasonal demands at work, the lighter nights often don’t seem to bring us more time and can leave us feeling we depleted - therapy in this context is often more valuable, not less. Yet making space for therapy can feel harder. On top of that, we counsellors also take holidays and therefore between us the therapeutic process can end up under strain over the summer.

As with any relationship that comes under strain we aim to pay attention and address and alleviate it directly. So how do we maintain the momentum we’ve gained in therapy? What can you expect from your therapist and how can you help as a client?

Primarily you should expect to have clear communication about how planned breaks on the part of the therapist will be managed. For example in my case, I endeavour to give three weeks' notice and, in the lead-up to a break, the gap is discussed and prepared for as much as is needed.

Making gaps in the work an explicit part of the therapy can be illuminating and valuable as a chance to experiment without the routine contact from the therapist or find extra space to reflect on the role and progress of therapy. That said, as a therapist, my aim is to ensure that my clients don’t feel dropped, deprioritised or abandoned and that any feelings of this nature are worked through in support of the client’s personal growth.

As a client, it’s also helpful to be aware of what you agreed on at the outset of therapy within your written or verbal agreement. Many therapists will expect more frequent breaks through the summer and offer flexibility by finding alternative times, moving sessions online or offering short ‘check-in’ calls. It’s worth checking your contract/agreement and discussing options with your therapist as these will be individual to you depending on the stage of therapy and what they can offer.

Most importantly, notice how you are experiencing counselling during the summer and explore this with your counsellor. Remember that regularly seeing a counsellor should provide a sense of being held and stabilised amongst any summer chaos and in fact help feel an ongoing sense of deeper healing and growth alongside the seasonal adjustments we find ourselves making at this time of year.

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If you would be interested in learning more about counselling please visit the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy www.BACP.org.uk and if you’d like to explore counselling with me please get in touch via my website www.andiemcpherson.co.uk

- enjoy more tips from holistic therapists by reading the full EDP article here