Dare Mason
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS17-05153
Location: Truro
Hello and welcome to my profile. Entering therapy is a brave, sometimes daunting, decision and it is crucial to find the right therapist for you. That’s why I offer a free half hour interview where you can ask all the questions you want to and then you can decide if you wish to proceed.
I usually see my clients once a week and each session lasts 50 minutes but can go up to an hour. I have a consulting room in the heart of Penzance but, if necessary, I can travel to see you.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society and abide by their code of ethics.
THE BENEFITS OF COUNSELLING
Having undergone 2 years of personal therapy, I know that it can be a life changing experience. To be given permission to express your deepest feelings, to be allowed to voice thoughts that may have been troubling you, to explore areas of your life that are difficult or stressful – to do all this in a safe environment where you know you are being truly listened to, with empathy and compassion – this can be a truly healing experience.
I believe therapy helped me sort out what is really me from what is not me. By ‘not me’ I mean all those beliefs and behaviours that I learned at an early age in order to get what I wanted and needed back then. The problem comes when we carry these beliefs and behaviours into our adult lives where they are no longer relevant or useful. So part of our journey is to find out who we really are beneath all this conditioning.
Sometimes, rather than dealing with the deeper questions in life – who am I, what is my purpose in life etc – we must first deal with something more immediate such as anxiety or depression, or a distressing life event such as a death or the ending of a relationship. There are specific tools and techniques that can help but the most effective way to deal with these often upsetting and traumatic issues is to talk, to really express what is going on in your heart and your mind and your body. This leads to emotional release which in turn, provides relief and peace.
THE WAY I WORK
Every person I see is different so, to some extent, I tailor my approach to suit the needs of each individual. So while most of my time will be spent listening to you, I will not simply sit there and nod! I will question you, sometimes I may even gently challenge you. I will not tell you how to fix your problems or change your life. But I will try to help you to gain greater clarity and self-awareness, to empower you to make better choices and grow into your potential.
Sometimes we may use therapeutic tools such as visualization or drawing exercises but only if they are relevant and only if you feel comfortable with them. I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Transactional Analysis and I sometimes draw on these models if I think they may be useful.
MY BACKGROUND
As for me, I came to this profession late, having spent most of my life as a recording engineer and record producer. I led a pretty glamorous life in some ways, travelling the world and working with many famous artists. It was in this environment that I learned the value of patience – I needed it in bucket loads, believe me! I also learned to be sensitive – after all, I was dealing with people who were often surprisingly insecure about their art. Unless they felt completely comfortable, they couldn’t express themselves. Looking back, it was very good training for the profession I am now in!
I suppose I have always been interested in what makes people ‘tick’. So I attended plenty of self development workshops, read lots of esoteric books and took an interest in alternative therapies, becoming a qualified Reiki healer in the 90’s.
As well as my time in the music industry, I worked for 10 years as a teaching assistant in the music department of a local secondary school. I very much enjoy working with young people. Occasionally a young adult will stop me in the street and thank me for getting them through their music GSCE. I don’t let on that I don’t remember them. But that’s a bigger thrill than having a hit record!