My counselling approaches
The practice of EMDR involves the processing of painful memories by recalling the experience and pairing it with bilateral stimulation of the brain such as eye movements. You may be familiar with EMDR if you have watched "The Me You Can't See" where Prince Harry bravely opens up to Oprah about his struggles with mental health. Prince Harry credits EMDR with helping him cope with his childhood trauma. EMDR assist people to heal from the emotional distress and associated symptoms resulting from traumatic life experiences.
Does this resonate with you? Sometimes in life we experience distressing events that seem to ‘stay with us’. The brain has not processed the information as it ordinarily does. It is almost like this moment has become ‘frozen in time’ and remembering the trauma may feel as distressing as going through it for the very first time. The images, sounds, smells and feelings associated with the memory still seem to remain. These memories have an ongoing negative effect that interfere with our experiences, emotions and even the way that we relate to other people. EMDR has a positive effect on how your brain processes the information. Following an EMDR session you no longer relive the trauma. You can still recall the incident that happened, but it no longer feels upsetting.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing)
Marriage and Relationship Counselling
Relationship counselling is for couples who want to repair, rebuild and reconnect their relationship. This can occur through talking about your issues with the counsellor encouraging you to share your thoughts and feelings by asking you how you feel and to think and reflect. In relationship counselling there will be time for each person to talk without the interruption of their partner. The counselling environment is a safe, neutral and non-judgemental place for couples to openly discuss the problems that are occurring in their relationship. Each person will have the opportunity to talk fairly without their partner dominating the discussion.
The counsellor's role is to be an impartial observer. The counsellors role is not to take the side of either person or to tell the couple what they should do.
It should be noted that The Gottman Method does not work with relationships that involve domestic violence. If you require help with domestic violence please call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or alternatively seek a counsellor who specialises in this area.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive behaviour therapy can assisting you by helping to teach you how to change your unhelpful thoughts and behaviour and is effective in treating both mental and emotional health issues such as depression and anxiety. CBT can teach you practical self-help strategies using a positive approach that is realistic. CBT is used to treat psychological problems like including depression, anxiety, anxiety disorders and irrational fears. CBT gives you the skills to challenge and override negative thoughts associated with depression and changing patters of thinking that are associated with the experience of anxiety and can really be considered 'skills for life'.
Depression and Anxiety Counselling
Talking therapy is a very effective treatment that works towards helping to overcome depression. Being able to express your emotions in a confidential, safe and non-judgemental environment is an extremely useful way to release the pain you are feeling inside. Talking therapy can help you to understand your relationships with others and help to to gain a new perspective on difficult situations. Some people who come to counselling are looking for help in how to deal with the circumstances that present themselves in every day life while other people wish to talk about events that happened to them as far back as early childhood.
Person Centred Counselling
My preferred approach to counselling is person-centred counselling which embraces the belief that people have the potential to understand themselves and have the capacity to resolve their own problems. This is achieved with the help of the counsellor’s knowledge, theory and personal qualities of expressing empathy and understanding. Person-centred counselling is very much centred on the counsellor’s ability to be genuine with the client and express their respect for them by not judging their thoughts, behaviour or circumstances. Through expressing an accurate level of empathy, understanding and sensitivity towards the client, they can work towards self healing.
Counselling and the NDIS
Counselling is also provided under the NDIS scheme and falls under the category ‘therapeutic support’ which as stated by the NDIS provides facilitating self-knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth and the optimal development of personal resources through assisting participants to work towards their personal goals and gain greater insight into their lives. I provide services under the NDIS for self-managed and plan-managed participants.