WHAT TO EXPECT.
Counselling is designed to meet your needs. Some people feel very comfortable sharing with someone new while others prefer more time to become open. Some people are hoping for tools to take home while some prefer a supportive place to let go of life’s burdens. Each person’s needs are unique to them and a therapist is there to meet you in that place. Because of this, counselling pulls from a variety of theories, approaches, and styles to help work with individuals. There are, however, some main things that counselling can involve. Below, are some of these things. It should be noted that counselling is a growing and developing field and that there will always be new and enriching things to add.
THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP AND SUPPORT.
Therapeutic relationship and support received in counselling are some of the most powerful parts of healing. Your therapist may spend a fair amount of time validating you and helping you feel seen and understood; all the while, accepting your value.
Life can be heavy; a counsellor is able to come alongside you and provide an extra shoulder to bear that weight. You do not have to carry it alone anymore. This mixture of support and unconditional acceptance can be a truly fulfilling part of counselling.
At Live Authentically Counselling, much of Brene Brown’s material is used as a way to support, accept, and encourage self-acceptance and growth. Shame and fear of being enough underlines much of our human experience and something for which vulnerability and acceptance becomes the antidote.
SPECIFIC TREATMENTS AND THEORIES
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Sometimes counsellors provide specific treatments or theories/tools that fit with your experience and needs. At Live Authentically Counselling, we offer Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI) and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) integrated with other therapeutic approaches to help healing and growth.
WORKSHEETS AND HOMEWORK.
There are often times when counsellors will provide worksheets, handouts, and small individual projects for point of illustration or self exploration. Counselling is a collaborative effort between client and therapist and this sort of practical pursuit of growth can be greatly beneficial on the path to feeling more connected to yourself, more peaceful in your world, and more connected to others.