Akeso (A-kee-so)…who is she?

What does Akeso mean?

I get asked this question all the time, so I thought I would explain to you who she is and why I chose this name to represent my business!

Akeso was the Greek goddess of the healing process, unlike her sister, Panaceia, who represented the cure itself, Akeso represented the process of healing.  Pretty great right?

There are so many definitions for counselling, the Oxford Dictionary (9th ed.) defines it as “the process of assisting and guiding clients, especially by a trained person on a professional basis, to resolve especially personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties.”  

or…

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “the job or process of listening to someone and giving them advice about their problems:” 

and finally…

Then the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) defines it as “Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their well being.”

BUT WHAT DOES THIS ACTUALLY MEAN??

These definitions all sort of capture what counselling is, but to me, it is so much more than can be crammed into a quick definition.  I see counselling as an interactive relationship between a client and counsellor.  The client is generally in distress about something past, present or future, and the counsellor is NON-biased, NON-judgemental, empathetic, and able to patiently explore the client’s situation with  grace and respect for her client.  In simplest terms, I incorporate the principles of Akeso into the sessions, and provide a safe environment where the healing process can begin.

I love Akeso because she is the embodiment of the healing process, the complex process by which we heal that which is broken.  It suggests healing as a natural process, not something to be bought or sold, something that is already present, inside us all.

How does this influence the work? 

I sincerely believe that each one of my clients walks into the room, even in their most broken state, already equipped with everything that they need to get them through their darkest days.

Those answers you seek, the strength, resilience and self-belief is there, underneath layers and layers of broken promises, lost dreams, difficult relationships, broken hearts, and societal expectations.  Together, we will unravel it all so that you can access the truest version of yourself, the one that I already see in each and every one of you.

I respect my clients’ personal process, it is different in each one, and I respect the individual pace of the person sat in front of me, we can go as slow or as fast as you need.  I will be there with you each step of the way and I know that together we can get you to where you need to be.

So come on, give it a go! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!!