Welcome to ISR Counselling

Hello and thanks for coming to the website. When things aren't going the way you would like them to or you just don't feel right, the first steps in looking for help are often the hardest. But you're here, so you're on the way and maybe I can help.

ISR Counselling is an independent practice owned and operated by me, Ian Murdoch. I started counselling in 2022 after a 30 year commercial career and am trained in the Person Centred Approach.

My role as your counsellor is to try and see your world as you do and to understand how that impacts on you. To do this, I will offer you a safe and confidential space which is entirely free of judgement and in that space, together we will look at your world and try to unpick the parts that are causing you distress.

My goal is to help you feel safe and to feel truly heard and when we get to that point, together we can start to look at the things that are causing you to feel the way you do.

I work with clients of all ages (from 13 and up) and have specific experience with teenagers and young adults. As a PCA counsellor, I am able to work with most issues but have have particular experience in anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, depression and low mood, intrusive thoughts, relationship dynamics, historic or current abuse, anger issues and bereavement by suicide amongst others.

Getting Started

Whatever you feel it is that you want to talk about, before we begin, we'll have a conversation (usually by phone or zoom to save you travelling) to establish whether I am the right therapist for you.

I work from a purpose built counselling room at my home just next to West Wycombe, or if more convenient, can see clients at the Youth Enquiries Service in Frogmoor in central High Wycombe. I also have sessions at Thame Wellbeing (in Racquets Fitness Centre)on Fridays. I am an on-line certified counsellor and can offer sessions face to face, over video link or a mix of both.

For more details of how to get in touch click here.

What is Person-Centred Counselling?

The Person-Centred Approach was developed and researched by Carl Rogers in the USA during the 50s and 60s and is now the most used type of therapy in the western world.

It differs from some other types of therapy in that there is no homework to do, no delving deep into your past (unless that is what you want to do) and concentrates on how you see the world now and how you experience it.

It is often referred to as Client Led Therapy because we will only ever talk about what you want to bring. This concept comes from two fundamental beliefs that Rogers held. Firstly, 'the client knows what hurts' (even if we don't always know that we know), and secondly that 'every individual has within them the ability to heal themselves', if the therapist can give an environment of genuineness, trust and positive regard to work in.

What can counselling help with?

Anxiety
Anger issues
Bereavement
Depression or low mood
Intrusive thoughts
Low self-esteem
Panic
Relationship dynamics
Stress
Suffering Abuse (current or historic)
Thoughts of not wanting to be here
Trauma

What does a typical counselling session look like?

There's not really any such thing as a typical session.We are all unique individuals with a unique set of experiences that have brought us to where we are today and that makes every session unique to you.

If you're not sure where to start, we can explore this together until we find the source of the issue.

What do you need to know to get started?

If you click on this link, it will take you to a page with more details about how we start out and how to get in touch.

My fees are £60 per session (50 mins) payable by transfer or cash if you prefer. A reduced rate is available for counselling students currently at college.

I am happy to work with clients on a long or short term basis.