What is Counseling?
Counseling is a collaborative process between client and therapist that involves problem solving, insight building, challenging of old beliefs, introduction of appropriate resources (external and internal), and relationship building.The counseling environment is a safe and confidential place where the client is encouraged to share his/her current experience of life. The respectful therapist will work with the client, sharing the client's goals in creating more adaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, and doing.
Therapists come from many different modalities, and use a number of different approaches. My own form of counseling incorporates elements from various modalities into a unique treatment plan for each client. The two main tenets of my therapeutic approach and client care are the Adlerian Psychodynamic model and the Information Processing model (EMDR)
What is Adlerian Counseling?
The Adlerian approach is based on a holistic model of therapy. Unlike other approaches which focus on only one or two aspects of human functioning, Adlerian therapy looks at the client's past experiences, and present living, as well as his/her future functioning. For instance, the Adlerian therapist will (most likely in the first session) record the client's family constellation, birth order and early recollections. Throughout therapy, the therapist will focus the client's attention on the 'here and now' , and base much of the work on the client's beliefs that may or may not be working out any longer in the client's life. At the same time, the therapist will instruct and encourage the client to incorporate all the new learning that has taken place into his/her future functioning.Adlerian counselling is interested in the fullness of a person. It explores his/her thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It works with his/her body sensations, memories, dreams, gut instincts, and spiritual nature. Inherent in Adlerian Counselling are elements from various therapeutic approaches. These include: Existential therapy, Jungian therapy, Narrative therapy, Family of Origin therapy, Sensory-motor therapy, Solution focused therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral therapy.
What is EMDR?
The information Processing model focuses on how information in our nervous system is processed, stored and retrieved. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique that is used to stimulate the nervous system and helps emotional memories and feelings that are “stuck” to be worked through or processed. It is a great way to work through triggers, nightmares, depression, anxiety, unresolved childhood issues, fears, and much much more! It takes only a few weeks and will resolve many of these problems FAST!EMDR is also great for those of you trying to cope with social anxiety, past child abuse issues, body image problems, stop cravings for drugs, food, cigarettes, etc. It is a break through therapy technique that has proven to be extremely successful!
During EMDR the client and counsellor will agree on a target memory to be worked on. This can be an early childhood memory or a recent traumatic event. The counsellor will use repetitive hand movements at a comfortable distance from the client's face. The client will be instructed to follow the hand movements with his/her eyes (Bilateral Stimulation) while focusing on the target memory. The eye movement allows the system to unblock any stored, unprocessed material so that the nervous system is able to move spontaneously toward an adaptive resolution. It essentially opens a file in the mind and cleans it out so that the 'computer' can run smoothly again. The client's experience during EMDR is that of safely sitting on a train and watching the scenery outside move past.
Both the Adlerian Approach and EMDR see the person as owning all the tools and abilities to reach optimum health. The approaches used in both models work to support and assist the individual client in removing any obstacles (specific beliefs, pattern of thinking and behaviors) that may stand in the way of his/her natural movement toward mental and physical health.Call now for a FREE consultation.
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