Kim Fitzwarine-Smith M.A, M.B.A.C.P

Person-Centred Counselling in the Shropshire countryside
Person-Centred Counselling in the Shropshire countryside
About my practice.
Irish philosopher and poet John O'Donohue describes the Celtic concept of 'Anam Cara' (Gaelic for 'Soul Friend'). While it needs to be borne in mind that there are important differences between a counsellor and a friend, some of the characteristics of the anam cara relationship describe well what I aim for in my practice:
'With the anam cara you could share your innermost self, your mind and your heart. (The relationship) was an act of recognition and belonging.'
“One of the tasks of (this relationship) is to listen compassionately and creatively to the hidden silences. Often secrets are not revealed in words, they lie concealed in the silence between the words or in the depth of what is unsayable between two people.
'(In this relationship) you are understood as you are without mask or pretension. The superficial and functional lies and half-truths of acquaintance fall away. You can be as you really are.'
(John O'Donohue, 'Anam Cara' 1997)
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