Inspired Counselling ServicesStephen McFarland

I am Stephen McFarland and I got the name Inspired Counselling after being inspired to train as a counsellor. I would like to inspire you to be the best you can be. Thank you for taking the time to find out more.

When you contact Inspired Counselling Services in Ballymena you will always be communicating with me, Stephen, NOT a receptionist, or an admin, or a company. I will endeavour to see you as soon as possible, as I believe that when you have taken the courageous step to seek counselling, you deserve to see a counsellor quickly.

I am an accredited member counsellor with The National Counselling Society. I offer 'one to one' integrative counselling, working from a psychodynamic core, therefore bringing the best approaches and my best skills, to suit your personal needs. I also use mindfulness in some sessions if it helps my clients. I offer a warm professional relationship, with confidentiality, in a warm, comfortable and discreet location, in my counselling room in Ballymena.

As a therapist in County Antrim I have many clients in my private practice, from 5 years old to elderly, with different issues, different religions, different cultural backgrounds, from different countries, and we have either worked long term (over 1 year), or short term (6 weeks), depending on their reason for coming to counselling. Every person is unique so therapy with each client is unique and tailored to each individual need.

I have over 6 years experience in secondary and primary schools counselling children and adolescents, which includes; bullying, eating disorders, physical abuse, mental abuse, shyness, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, exam pressures, anxiety, depression, bereavement, problems at home and many other issues. Counselling for younger children is play based as this is how they work things out at their developmental stage, teens is a mixed approach depending on what development stage they are in. Each young client is unique so therapy is always bespoke, never following the same pattern, this inspires the young client as they realise how special they are receiving a unique counselling and a set time is given to them and them alone for 50 minutes each week.

As a therapist in County Antrim I have 3 years experience in a homeless hostel which involves, suicide, self-harm, alcohol problems, drug problems, managing mental health problems, anger management, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, panic attacks and many other issues.

Other issues I have experience with are; dissociative identity disorder, postnatal depression, fertility problems, fostering, physical health issues, mental health issues and many more. All my clients have helped me learn more and become a better counsellor.

My main focus is that through this relationship, we can work together towards your inner healing, in a relaxed and safe environment with confidence.

My counselling practice in County Antrim is within easy reach of Ballymena, Galgorm, Cullybackey, Ballymoney, Antrim, Belfast, Derry Londonderry and many more as a train station is within five minutes walk, and is situated on the Belfast to Derry / Londonderry line.

I also provide online counselling through a confidential, safe and secure platform.
I have clients from all over UK and Europe, so therfore I have experience in different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This can be from the comfort of your own home or on top of a mountain, in a forest, on the beach or anywhere you wish it to be, as long as you get good reception, and it can be a confidential space for you.

Through counselling with me I will walk your journey with you to find inner healing, confidence and courage to face the dark places in your life.

Why You Can Trust Stephen

My Counselling Business Is Built On Integrity.

I am a down to earth person, easy going and what you see is what you get. I am extremely serious and careful as a counsellor. You give me your precious time and ask me to walk your journey with you, whatever that may be, and I will be giving you 100% every time. That means continued studying and researching to bring you the best counsellor I can be. We go through everything together.

My private counselling practice exists to carry other peoples pain, hurt, rejection, shame, whatever they are finding hard to carry, through counselling. I will help carry it until we find your way to the light at the end of the tunnel. I have done this with many adults and adolescents. I have helped people carry their burdens for a time, until they are strong enough to let some go, give it away, and take what is left and move forward in life, knowing that I am still here if they need help in the future. I have learned so much from my clients, each one so special as they put their trust in me and we learn together.

The important factor to me and my clients is the result of counselling, the fruit of our labour.
One small ripple of kindness can become a wave as it is multiplied on, with each person benefiting someone else as they have benefited. I like it when I hear of my clients being able to pass on some skills I have taught them onto their friends, therefore the ripple expands.

As a counsellor in County Antrim, I have gained a good reputation as a person who cares, and this is how my Ballymena counselling practice has built up, my integrity, by word of mouth, and recommendations by my clients. Some clients have allowed me to include a testimonial on my website here .

I would like you to contact me and we can discuss what I can offer you in counselling. You deserve this time exclusively for you, which will then help those around you that you care about, as you will be a stronger version of yourself.

Stephen.

New Discover Section

I have created a new blog section on this website called Discover so you can click the tab at the top or click here on Discover

I will add the first part of the latest entry below here each time I create a new entry on my Discover page.

See You Tomorrow

These three wee words mean a lot more than people think.
They are heavy, dripping with meaning.

Say it different, say it like, I Will see you tomorrow BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE, WITH ALL MY STRENGTH, I WILL, see you tomorrow. 

Now we are getting a little further into what these three words mean to some people. Sometimes a person is struggling with some very real and scary life events, or something in their mind that only they and their counsellor may know about, and they may struggle to believe they will be here tomorrow, they may struggle to see past the next hour, but with the skills of a counsellor, and that part of them inside that wants to stay alive and grow, and have new possibilities, feelings, hopes, dreams, the person may surprise themselves and be able to grow that part that wants to stay alive, and find it a little easier to see things more clearly.

An example I have been allowed to use anonymously, is a guy I will call Joe. I was working in a building for people with addictions, mental health issues etc. Joe had actively tried to die by suicide because of addictions mixed with family problems and mental health issues. I found him, my colleague and I got him ‘tidied up the best we could’ and had phoned an ambulance. This ambulance was taking hours to get to us, as it was a busy night. I sat beside Joe for these hours to keep him alive, we talked, had silence, listened to music, just trying to connect with that wee part inside that wanted to stay alive.

Continued at the link below...

You can read the rest of these words on my Discover page which you can access through clicking on Discover