COUNSELLING

Clients are supported to identify the solutions, changes and the best path forward through an active systematic and flexible approach

Our aim is to support clients to find ways to create a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Do you want to change your life?

• Do you have an inner drive to grow?
• Are you are tired of feeling stuck?

You are keen to:

• increase your self-confidence and self-acceptance
• be free of self-limiting beliefs
• be more decisive
• stop procrastinating and self-sabotage
• overcome your fears
• create more meaningful relationships
• decrease the emotional pain caused by stress, anxiety, and depression
• manage and overcome your anger
• overcome job or work environment issues
• overcome the pain of loss and grief

Change your thinking and self-limiting beliefs and change your life!

Counselling and psychotherapy will draw on relevant concepts from positive psychology, psycho-dynamic theory, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness practices, deep relaxation and hypnotherapy so that you can:

• Explore and explode self-defeating patterns and emotional themes
• Clarify what makes life truly meaningful for you, where your needs are being met and issues to address
• Explore and clarify your values and make changes to create a life where you can thrive and flourish
• Develop insight, be empowered to develop the capability to find the best solutions to address the challenges you are facing

For further information:

RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING

GRIEF AND LOSS COUNSELLING

CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY

Approaches used include:

MINDFULNESS

“Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, as if your life depended on it, non-judgmentally”, (Jon Kabat-Zinn 2006).

An ancient concept, ‘mindfulness’ or ‘awareness’ is found across a wide range of spiritual traditions including Christianity and Buddhism

In the clinical setting, mindfulness encourages a quiet, accepting, compassionate focus in connecting to one’s higher self, building self awareness and greater self acceptance.  Strategies for mindfulness encourage selective attention,  and typically focus on the breath as the way to remain connected to the moment.

In the extraordinarily busy and stressful lives that many people are experiencing, taking the time to stop and focus can be life saving.   The individual is more centred and can then be better able to provide time for reflection, to gain some insight and inner peace.

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy facilitates shifting from a problem-solving approach to a mindful appreciation way of operating.   The basis of this approach is that “our quality of life is primarily dependent on mindful values guided action”.

When you focus on something you amplify it in your awareness.  The aim of therapy is to teach clients the psychological skills to deal effectively with difficult or painful thoughts and feelings so that they have less impact.

There are times when we are not aware of thoughts or feelings  that are not serving us well and we need to bring them into our awareness so that we can change the impact they are having.  On the other hand, there can be thoughts or feelings that we are amplifying in our awareness  which are having too much impact on us and are not helpful in our lives.    We can learn strategies to reduce their impact.

Ref Harris, R, ACT Made Simple, 2009, New Harbinger Publications

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Research in the field of Positive Psychology has shown that it is possible to be happier and more fulfilled regardless of one’s circumstances, by building positive emotions and character traits.

Counselling aims to help individuals and couples to tap into their strengths and enable them to cope more effectively with their emotional pain such as anxiety, depression and grief.  The process helps clients free themselves from negative thinking.   Through the process clients are taught mindfulness and awareness skills  which help them dissociate from destructive thought patterns which are limiting their ability to live more fully.

The counseling process helps clients:

• Clarify their values and what makes life meaningful for them
• Relate to themselves and others with more awareness, acceptance and compassion
• Mindfully and constructively manage the impact of destructive and negative thoughts
• Identify and build on inner strengths
• Move forward with a positive future oriented  mindset understanding what makes life meaningful for them

PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY

This work is based on the idea that human behavior and relationships are shaped by conscious and unconscious influences and beliefs.   The types of areas to be explored may include how past experiences may be impacting their life now and identifying the assumed expectations, underlying beliefs and  frameworks that may be limiting their potential for achieving happiness and well-being in their life.