Life Consultants

The multitude of counsellors in Tring and Berkhamsted – Part 2

In February we reported that when prompted to search for counsellors near Tring or therapists near Berkhamsted,  Google suggested there were at least 34 available options , including face-to-face and online.

That number appears to be a minimum, given that some people do not make themselves known to Google. Curiously, amongst those who are listed by Google,  several appear reluctant to declare  what they actually do. Perhaps  they consider investigating the unknown  to be  intrinsically constructive.

We think it is significant that of the 34, only 6 are male  (our perception rather than any other form of gender recognition).   There are several sensible possibilities which might explain the preponderance of females; some other time, perhaps.

From those who do volunteer information about themselves we are impressed by the range of therapies and support available.  Such an abundance of skills and qualifications.  Do all  these consultants really  have such a broad width of expertise?   At LCP we  invariably focus first on topical analysis in its broadest sense –  as we wrote elsewhere (quoting Father Brown) “It isn’t that they can’t see the solution – it is that they can’t see the problem.”

What does seem clear is the number of counsellors and therapists who do not appear to have  a wide and extensive portfolio of “lived experiences”.  (We employ that phrase although we have never entirely grasped which experiences would have significance  if they were not lived.)    We maintain that “experience tends to be better than theory”  but from the Tring and Berkhamsted counsellors’ internet information we see little evidence of  varied CVs nor do we find much in the way of first-hand knowledge from a long life well-lived.

Obviously it is reassuring to know that  if you live in Herts or Bucks and need counselling or mentoring  there is a wide range of possibilities readily available, but those possibilities  will be of varying suitability.

Certainly best if you can find a reliable personal recommendation, but very often it is difficult to make that initial enquiry – which is where Google is a great help.  Simply type “counsellor near me” or “therapist near me”,  or insert Tring or Berkhamsted,  click on Maps and peruse all the red dots. . .

Good luck.