What is Counselling and/or Therapy?
Counselling and/or therapy takes place when a counsellor, social worker and/or therapist sees a client in a private and confidential setting to explore a difficulty the client is having, distress they may be experiencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss of a sense of direction and purpose. Counselling that is initiated by the individual themselves has proven to have better long-term results of change.
By listening actively and patiently the counsellor, social worker and/or therapist can begin to perceive the difficulties from the client’s point of view and can help them to see things more clearly, possibly from a different perspective. Counselling and/or therapy is a way of enabling choice or change or of reducing confusion. It does not involve giving advice or directing a client to take a particular course of action. Practitioners do not judge or exploit their clients in any way.
In the counselling/therapy sessions the client can explore various aspects of their life and feelings, talking about them freely and openly in a way that is rarely possible with friends or family. Bottled up feelings such as anger, anxiety, grief and embarrassment can become very intense and counselling offers an opportunity to explore them, with the possibility of making them easier to understand. The counsellor and/or therapist will encourage the expression of feelings and as a result of their training will be able to accept and reflect the client’s problems without becoming burdened by them.
Acceptance and respect for the client are essentials for a counsellor and, as the relationship develops, so too does trust between the counsellor and client, enabling the client to look at many aspects of their life, their relationships and themselves which they may not have considered or been able to face before. The counsellor may help the client to examine in detail the behaviour or situations which are proving troublesome and to find an area where it would be possible to initiate some change as a start. The counsellor may help the client to look at the options open to them and help them to decide the best for them.
Individual Counselling/Therapy
We provide counselling services that are tailored to suit the needs of each individual client. Commonly, we work with clients first to discover their personal perceptions about the cause for their presenting issues as well as what they feel they need from counselling in order to remedy their concerns. We and the clients will then work together towards developing treatment goals.
Child & Family Counselling/Therapy
This is a special form of counselling that focuses on changes within a family, and recognizes that family relationships have an impact on the feelings, behavior and psychological adjustment of every family member. Instead of meeting with one individual, all or most family members are involved in the therapy process. In blended families, this may include stepparents, step-siblings and half-siblings. When children in blended families have adjustment problems, it may be helpful for all the parents and step-parents to work together in family therapy.
Pre-Marital Counselling/Therapy
Believe it or not, there are many issues that newlyweds do not discuss prior to the big day. Knowing about how each of you feel about personal values and lifestyle issues can make a big difference in how connected you feel now and in the future. Let us help you make the right decisions for a long, healthy, loving and faithful marriage.
Marital or Couples Counselling/Therapy
It is a common and very normal mistake for couples to take their happy relationship and relatively easy communication for granted. Marriages cannot be left to tend themselves, however. Constant work is needed to avoid the disassociation that lay the groundwork for unhealthy changes.
If the fundamental basis of your marriage has changed, leaving you unhappy and unfulfilled, consider a marriage counsellor to help get you back on track.
Personal Development
Career & Personal Development Counselling is designed to help you achieve more success and satisfaction in your career and in your life. Allow us to assist you in making these life-altering decisions and guide you in making the right decisions.
Post-Traumatic Stress
If you went through a traumatic experience and are having trouble getting back to your regular life and reconnecting to others, you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When you have PTSD, it can seem like you’ll never get over what happened or feel normal again. But help is available – and you are not alone. If you are willing to seek treatment, stick with it, and reach out to others for support, you will be able to overcome the symptoms of PTSD and move on with your life.
And much much more….
Other services that we are currently updating include: support in depression, anxiety, grief & loss, trauma & crisis, victim assistance, family and disabilities, family & relationship issues, anger, addictions, divorce & separation, pre-marital, marital, teen & parenting, newcomer services & employee assistance services. We offer short & long-term services that are catered to your specific needs.