Counselling
Our Counselling (Integrative) Approach
We offer online or face-to-face counselling for a range of problems using a Humanistic Integrative approach:
CBT • EXISTENTIAL • GESTALT • PERSON-CENTRED • PSYCHODYNAMIC • TA
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
(Aaron Beck & Albert Ellis)
Focuses on Cognitive and Behavioural techniques, where the client learns ways of changing problematic thoughts and behaviour. Both counsellor and client collaboratively, take a practical and strategic approach, with goal setting and examining thought processes.
The CBT counsellor encourages client self-therapy, involving homework assignments or practice exercises. The client practices CBT skills learned in therapy at home and records their thought or behavioural experiences through journal keeping, as part of the therapeutic process.
The client is encouraged to use relaxation techniques (e.g. breathing exercises, etc.) to effectively relieve stress-related ailments, phobias, obsessions, depression and eating disorders (simultaneously with GP prescribed drug treatment).
Gestalt Therapy:
(Fritz Perls)
Essentially, this term was derived from the German word for “organized whole” with a focus on the whole of the client’s experience (feelings, thoughts, and actions). He or she gains self-awareness in the `here and now’ by analysing behaviour and body language. Incidentally, expressing and talking about suppressed feelings are encouraged, to act out scenarios and dream recall, to help move clients beyond any painful emotional blocks.
Existential Approach:
(Viktor Frankl, Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Rollo May)
Existential therapy delves deep into the complexities of human existence, addressing core concerns such as the quest for meaning, the essence of freedom, and the inevitability of death. This therapeutic journey emphasizes introspection, reflection, and profound personal discovery. Through genuine dialogue, clients are invited to explore their deepest fears, aspirations, and beliefs.
Techniques such as dream interpretation, free association, and exploration of existential anxieties, like isolation and meaninglessness, are employed. These approaches enable clients to recognize patterns, make choices, and take responsibility for their actions. Enhanced self-awareness guides clients to confront and embrace life’s inherent challenges. In doing so, they nurture a profound connection to their true selves and cultivate a richer understanding of their place in the world.
Person-Centred Therapy (Client-Centred):
(Carl Rogers)
The most critical development of this humanistic approach is the emphasis on the positives. Both client and counsellor work within an accepting and non-judgmental relationship. He or she is free to express any emotions and feelings albeit negative feelings, which may have been problematic.
During therapy, the client gains autonomy, where he/she develops the ability to see himself as a person, not as an object. Incidentally, this allows him/her to experience the freedom to change what needs to be changed. They can work toward achieving their goals and reaching self-actualization.
Psychodynamic Approach:
(Sigmund Freud)
This analytic approach attempts to explain how current behaviour can be influential by unconscious thoughts and feelings and past experiences with emphasis on recurring patterns of relationships. It aims to explore various layers of the personality (neurosis, psychosis) revealing flaws in the development and imbalances, between parts of the personality.
It delves into deeply forgotten or buried material to help the client find a way of expressing thoughts and feelings. Then, he or she can find relief and transformation in their lives.
Moreover, in therapy, clients are encouraged to talk about childhood relationships with parents and other significant people. The therapist, in turn focuses on the client/therapist relationship (the dynamics) and in particular, on the transferences.
Transactional Analysis (TA) Approach
(Eric Bernes)
Transactional analysis (TA) is a method commonly used by therapists, to analyse transactions and their outcomes in relationships between two people, whether satisfactory or unsatisfactory (e.g. past relationships, a conversation or meeting).
Overall, this model is used in therapy, to assess the reason why relationships go wrong or right, as most transactions between two people are okay. However, from time to time, something goes wrong in the transactions, which results in an unsuccessful outcome.
By assessing the three ego states (Parent, Adult, Child – PAC), the therapist can determine the position the client plays in the relationship. Games that are played, the rituals and scripts involved are reviewed, to analyse why the transactions may work or not work. As a result, there are conflicts (crossed transactions) or communication (complementary transactions).
Effective Approach to Counselling:
+ Caring
+ Congruence
+ Empathic understanding
+ Empowering
+ Feelings and emotions considered
+ Friendly manner
+ Good rapport
+ Good listening skills
+ Help with goal-setting
+ Non-judgmental
+ Reliable
+ Respecting others
+ Unconditional Positive Regard
+ Valuing others
Areas of specialty include:
– Age-related issues
– Anger management
– Bereavement/grief/loss
– Building self-esteem / self-confidence
– Bullying
– Child sexual abuse
– Cultural Challenges / identity
– Difficulties at work
– Disability
– Discrimination
– Emotional problems
– Family relationships
– Family problems
– Fear; panic attacks
– Financial struggles
– Life-coping strategies
– Loneliness; isolation
– Mental Health issues: anxiety, depression; OCD;
– Managing Depression
– Migration/Immigration issues (non-legal)
– Negative / irrational thoughts
– Post traumatic stress disorder
– Self-development
– Stop Smoking Support
– Stress
– Substance abuse (Alcohol)
– Trauma
Our specialty:
We help clients find their true purpose in life, to build on their self-worth, self-esteem, self-belief and self-confidence. This helps them to discover and maintain meaningful and lasting relationship with self and others.
Subsequently, it is possible to find a more fulfilling and satisfactory life, once issues and goals are sorted out, using a range of relevant therapeutic skills and tools. Eventually, within their own time, clients can identify and draw out his or her own inner resources.
Other areas of interest:
• Group Support
• Christian coaching & mentoring
• Christian counselling
• Multicultural counselling (inclusive of all backgrounds/culture)