Counselling Foundations
Client-Centred
As the client is the expert of their own lives, a significant part of my role is to collaborate, or partner with the client in understanding themselves and their situation better, supporting and equipping them to make their own decisions in their efforts to improve their life or live in better alignment with themselves and their world. This includes creating a space where the client feels safe, understood, respected, and accepted without judgement.
Holistic
I look at each person as a whole, not just in individual parts. My counselling considers and includes all aspects of being human, the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social.
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Respectful of Diversity
I respect the diversity of beliefs and practices that contribute to a client’s sense of self, value and life meaning. This includes areas of faith, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, level of ability, life stage, and socioeconomic status.
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Trauma-Informed
I recognise that experiences of trauma are widespread and can have an ongoing impact on daily life. Even when not working specifically on trauma with a client, I seek to remain sensitive to its possible presence, providing a safe and compassionate space, respectful of past experiences, and maintaining trust through collaboration where the client has choice.
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Evidence-Informed
I seek to be familiar with current and emerging theory, research and expertise in therapeutic work, and maintain collaborative relationships with professional peers and supervisors. I also recognise, respect, and am informed by the insight and experience the client brings to their own counselling.
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Therapeutic Approaches & Skills
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy looks at the stories of our lives, past, present and future, in order to live a more meaningful life. The stories might be about a problem, a relationship, a family or community, and the experience of these things. It might include viewing the story from a different angle, adding detail or forgotten things, rewriting it, or sharing it with others, to give a richer experience of self, life and community.
More info here.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Related to CBT, the core approach of ACT is to accept what we cannot change, and commit to changing the things that we can for a more meaningful life . It focuses on reducing the impact of difficult thoughts and feelings, clarifying what is meaningful to the individual, and engaging more fully in meaningful actions now.
More info here.
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Congnitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
A key principle of CBT is that the way we think determines the way we feel. When we experience challenges, our level of distress is influenced by our thinking. We cannot always change those challenges, but we can change the way we think about them, which then changes the way we feel about them.
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Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
SFBT is a short-term, goal and solution focused approach to a problem. It looks at the present reality of the problem, imagines a better reality, finds the strengths and resources available, and determines the steps to get to the solution.
More info here.
Focusing
Focusing is a skill that involves listening to the body in a gentle and compassionate way, to hear the messages the inner self is communicating, in order to promote self-awareness and emotional healing.
More info here.
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Wellness Strategies
Wellness strategies incorporate particular skills, exercises or habits that promote general wellbeing in the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual areas of life. It might involve developing an overall plan, or targeting a specific area such as resilience, stress reduction, sleep, mindfulness, social connections, and coping skills. Most therapeutic approaches incorporate wellness skills and strategies.