My Approach to Counselling
Various psychological theories and therapeutic models have informed my approach to counselling. I continue to strive to learn more about therapy and incorporate new ideas in my work.
For therapy to be effective, a trusting and caring relationship needs to exist between the therapist and client. Honest and clear feedback is valuable to move the counselling relationship forward.
It can be a little scary to open up to a counsellor. I take this into account when working with all individuals. I often will try to bring a sense of humor to the session to help people feel more comfortable. I also consider that many of us seeking help have been touched by trauma in some way, and that traumatic experiences may impact our sense of who we are and how we view the world. I always try to take this knowledge into account with my work.
As an adult learner myself (who else goes back to school in their fifties?) I fully believe that at any age we can strive to make a difference in ourselves, our relationships, and our world. It is important to realize as humans we can forgive ourselves for mistakes, but also realize these experiences can teach us about ourselves and the world around us. Every day is a school day!
In my doctoral thesis, I reviewed the current use of dreamwork in psychotherapy. If this topic is of interest to you and you would like more information, please email me.