Need more information to help you decide whether counselling or psychotherapy is right for you? Check out the answers to some common questions below:
Q&A’s:
- What is Counselling and Psychotherapy?
- Is therapy only for people with diagnosable psychological conditions?
- What are some problems that therapy can help you address effectively?
- What is a holistic approach to therapy?
- What are the benefits of getting therapy?
- What are the beliefs and visions that underpin therapy?
- What can I expect from therapy sessions?
- How can I book and pay for sessions?
What is Counselling and Psychotherapy?
Counselling and Psychotherapy are similar growth-oriented, typically talk-based therapies that differ primarily in scope and depth. They involve self-exploration, reflection, and learning new skills that help you become more self-aware, and capable of dealing with the difficult thoughts, feelings, events, and situations that we encounter in life.
Counselling is helpful for addressing short-term issues that you may want additional support and guidance to manage and cope with.
Psychotherapy usually involves more in-depth exploration, and tends to be longer-term in duration. It will help you safely confront, shift and transform deeply ingrained patterns or issues that are holding you back.
On the whole, therapy is a completely confidential, collaborative, and cathartic process. It enables you to access and step into your authentic Self, and learn the skills needed to build a rich and meaningful life. As such, therapy is best understood as a commitment to, and investment in, your greatest asset: you.
Together, we will explore your inner and outer worlds, and uncover and release the limiting blocks to your experience of greater internal peace, strength, love, clarity and joy .
Is therapy only for people with diagnosable psychological conditions?
Counselling and psychotherapy can benefit anyone experiencing distress and difficulties, at any stage of life. Whether your issue can be, or has been, clinically diagnosed or not, is irrelevant.
Life can and will deal us many blows over the course of our lives. Our emotional, psychological and behavioural responses to those difficulties do not need to be classified as pathological or abnormal to justify getting support. We all need additional external help at times; there’s nothing strange or shameful about that.
We are innately social and multi-faceted beings living in complex times. Admitting we need extra help and seeking the right support is the healthiest thing we can do when challenges arise. This is the first and most important step to ensuring we’ll be equipped to successfully navigate our challenges, and bounce back, stronger and wiser than before.
It’s very common to not have enough support, let alone the impartial and non-judgemental support we often desire from those closest to us. Not everyone has the skill, capacity, or know-how to be there for us in our times of need, even if they genuinely care about us.
It is often liberating and easier to speak honestly about our difficulties with a complete stranger who doesn’t have ingrained expectations of us: who’s view of us is not limited by our past, or determined by established interpersonal roles.
Therapy is a form of personalised, professional, and confidential support that is designed to help you deal with the difficulties you experience in life, with a view to helping you grow beyond them and ultimately flourish.
Getting Counselling or Psychotherapy does not mean you’re crazy, weak, or a lost cause. It’s not only completely normal, but also healthy and effective, to reach out and get a kind helping hand from an objective, trained professional.
Getting support simply means you get to feel better, clearer, stronger and happier, sooner, rather than later.
What are some problems that therapy can help you address effectively?
Therapy has wide-ranging applications for the alleviation of mental and emotional suffering in many different forms. However, some of the more common conditions it can help you with include struggles with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, addiction, abuse, trauma, existential concerns, career and work challenges, eating disorders, and body image issues.
What does a holistic approach to therapy mean?
A holistic approach to therapy is one that takes into account all the different aspects of your identity, explores different levels of awareness, and aims to align and integrate the different aspects of who you are.
My background Psychology and training in Process Oriented Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), The Gottman Couples Therapy Method, Positive Psychology approaches, Soul-Centered Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and various mindfulness and somatic approaches, gives me the flexibility to work with you in different ways, and tailor my approach to what most resonates with, and works best for you.
Your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions of self are taken into account, along with cultural, relational and other factors that have shaped who you are, where you are, and where you’re wishing to go.
As with every good therapeutic approach, our sessions will also be warm and professional: completely confidential, non-judgmental, safe, gentle and transformative.
What are the benefits of getting therapy?
Feel better sooner. Life’s too short to spend struggling or just getting by. You always have the freedom to choose a different direction that leads to different outcomes, and cultivate a different state. Sometimes we just need a push in the right direction to remember what we already knew, and the strength contained within us all along.
Achieve change and healing from the inside-out. Commit to lasting change by addressing the underlying source of your distress. Develop your inner resources, skills, and self-knowledge, without the costs associated with self-medicating or attempting to distract your pain or problems away.
Get empowered and integrate your wholeness. A holistic approach is one that does not pathologise or reduce you, or your experiences, by seeing your struggles or symptoms in isolation. Instead it sees you within a larger context by appreciating all the different parts that make up the whole of who you are. Choose to expand yourself; not to minimise, weaken, or restrict your awareness.
Take back your agency. You don’t need to wait for ‘permission,’ or for anyone or anything else beside you to change. Investing in your inner growth puts you back in control of you and enables you to take charge of your life. It helps you take control of what is within your ability to control, and feel clearer, stronger, and grounded no matter what else may be occurring or stagnant around you.
Detoxify, heal and strengthen every aspect of your life. Therapy is an investment in yourself and your well being. As you are the common denominator in your life, this inevitably means that you’re also investing in all of your relationships, and in every aspect of your life.
What are my beliefs and vision of you that underpins therapy?
You are able to get through anything: no matter how troubling, or seemingly insurmountable. It is possible to walk in acceptance of what is, open up to bigger possibilities, and operate from a place of deep self-respect, and appreciation.
Every experience is meaningful: within it are contained the seeds for change, deep strength, and evolving wisdom. You can choose to embrace and grow into your emergent self right now.
You are stronger, wiser, and more valuable than you know. It’s possible to recall your unalterable worth and let that recognition guide your life even in the face of difficult times.
You have resources, gifts and solutions buried within you: your inner compass can guide you towards what you most value, need, and where you need to go. It’s possible to reconnect to your deepest values and innate GPS.
You can breathe life into or get back to your best self, no matter how far you think you have fallen, or how much time may have passed. You can learn how to bounce back from challenges at any time.
You are the captain of your own ship; the hero of your own journey. Embrace your inherent power contained within your ability to make choices, and navigate your life according to your values.
What can I expect from therapy sessions with you?
You can expect care, compassion, warmth, understanding, non-judgemental support, encouragement and confidentiality.
You can expect to be asked about what brings you to therapy, about your life circumstances, relationships, personal history and upbringing.
You will be asked what you most desire; what your hopes and vision for yourself and your life are.
The aim of therapy is to dive deep, explore, excavate the hidden treasures from your experiences, learn new skills to heal past wounds, and activate a different, better present, now.
How can I book and pay for sessions?
Booking a session is as easy as emailing me your preferred available days and time frames, as well as where you’d like to have your session. You are welcome to get in touch by texting or calling as well.
Bear in mind that my phone is set to silent while in therapy, so the best way to get in touch is to email or send me a text. If you do call, don’t be concerned if I don’t pick up- I may simply be unavailable. Just be sure to leave a voicemail if you would like me to return your call, or send me a follow-up text.
Whether you email, text or contact me through one of my website booking forms, please specify whether you’d prefer to meet at my Newtown orCBD location, or have a home visit if you are in Sydney. If you live out of state or abroad, sessions are held remotely via a secure online video platform, unless you would prefer to have sessions over the phone.
Payment for sessions can be made in person with cash, debit, or credit card. Alternatively, I will email you an invoice that you can pay via direct deposit, or through PayPal.