What types of counselling
do I PRACTICE?
At times I also draw upon a practice called Gestalt. This is where there’s a lot of focus on how you’re feeling in the here and now. Under this practice therapists strive towards accepting people as we are now, with less focus on analysing and interpreting people.
One of my most favoured points of this practice is based on something written by a man called Arnold Beisser in 1970 within his Paradoxical theory of Change. Here he explains that change occurs when one becomes what he is, not when he tries to become what he is not. This suggests that until we accept ourselves completely, we cannot change as people. When we do accept ourselves, change will begin to occur naturally. Within my work, I therefore use this to help individuals to learn about themselves, to notice their feelings and behaviours in order to help them accept themselves completely.
My style falls predominantly under the Humanistic umbrella, which means I sit with a view that we all have the ability to change and develop as individuals. Sometimes it’s just a case of helping people to realise their inner strengths. I do this by encouraging people to think about feelings, emotions and thoughts and use a number of different theories to help with this.
One of the approaches that falls under the Humanistic umbrella is a the Person-Centred Approach. This is where people are seen as individuals with unique experiences. It is thought that within us, we have the resources to understand ourselves and to decide our own behaviours. Within this practice, there is great emphasis on the importance of the relationship between individuals and their counsellor. When I utilise a Person-Centred Approach, I will be empathetic, non-judgemental, genuine and will allow you take the lead.
