My approach to Counselling
There are many reasons people go to therapy: help getting unstuck, help reaching or setting goals, or learning new ways to cope with depression, anxiety, or out of control emotions.
Despite each person being so different, there are some things I think apply to everyone.
1. You’re the expert on you.
I may have studied how people can change, but you will always know more about you.
What does this mean?
- We will work on your goals, and you are in charge
- When you don’t want to talk about something, I respect that
- I won’t make suggestions without knowing what you’ve tried
- We work at your pace
This approach has a few names, some call it “client led” or “client centered”.
Why is it important?
Sometimes, we go through so much, that it’s hard to know if we can trust our own judgment. Therapy can be an amazing process, where we can discover the reasons we are the way we are, and learn to trust our insticts again, and use them to get where we want to go.
2. Your wellness is what matters.
I’ll do my best to make sure you’re getting the best help possible.
What does this mean?
- I see it as an ethical duty to let you know about helpful resources and options
- I’ll do my best to speak openly about rates and treatment plan options that consider affordability
- I’ll actually speak to your other health care providers, and work with them (if you agree and consent to it)
- If you have a cultural or spiritual community you would like to incorporate into your team, I would be honoured to learn about it
Why is this important?
As soon as you are my client, your wellbeing is my priority. If there are other professionals that can help, we should consider them. For example, sometimes we store so much stress in our bodies, that massage therapy can be helpful in addition to counselling.
In the past, I worked at a health center where I regularly consulted with medical doctors… it was great for our mutual clients. Attacking problems from many angles, and building up a real “self-care” team, can be wonderful.
3. Science is good, and we should use it.
There is so much exciting research about what makes therapy helpful; to ignore it would be such a waste!
You may notice in my about-me or experience section that I am a bit of a nerd. Yes, research excites me. Did you know that therapists typically think we are good judges of change, but research shows we’re not great at detecting negative change? I think that is pretty important to know! Knowing this means I’m aware it’s important to check with you about our progress.
I could go on about research but…
What does it mean?
- I will always strive to offer the most up-to date, evidence-based practice
- I’ll regularly be checking that counselling is working for you
- I won’t ever use treatments that are considered ineffective or harmful
Being a counsellor is such a deeply held honour for me.
If we work together, I want you to know how much I appreciate the opportunity to get to know your strengths, be on your team, and use my knowledge to help you reach your potential.