Therapy primarily involves changing the story and breaking the cycle of unconscious thinking patterns, influenced by the past and revealed in a person's present behaviour. This process is begun by exploring understandings, impressions and experiences as they arise in therapy, in connection with reflections on our early years along with our experience of our primary care givers.

To honestly share our fears, hopes, disappointments and doubts with another in the space of counselling/therapy can be challenging, but it is also the beginning of the healing process. Most are unused to revealing their true selves behind the mask, much of which can be unconscious functioning, and find that discovering long held beliefs and defences, and allowing them to fall away, is a process that takes time.

Crucial to this infinitely rewarding experience is the therapist who can create an environment of empathic attunement and initiating helpful transactions to facilitate honest and insightful exploration. Also crucial is the experience of a different way of being in connection with another, initially with the therapist. My belief is that only as individuals embrace and connect with their felt responses through this process can they begin to rebuild new ways of thinking and being, particularly in how they experience themselves and others in relationship. The outcome is to build a more satisfying true and authentic self and to find one's true passion in life.

 

Sometimes clients may just need someone to listen with an empathic ear while they work through a current issue. It may be grief over a loss of partner or employment, working through family issues, dealing with stress or anger. Clients may wish to gain relaxation or meditative techniques to assist them through a difficult time. The counsellor provides the client space and an opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of living, thinking and being that may assist in gaining a more helpful perspective or satisfying resolution.