What is counseling?
A counseling session is a safe space where you are allowed to be exactly who you are without fear of judgment or ridicule. When we meet, I will listen and support you through whatever difficulty you are struggling with. We can then decide together what areas of your life you might want to make changes to and explore ways to do that in a safe, comfortable setting.
Most mental health counselors utilize a variety of counseling theories as it’s important to tailor our approach to the needs of our clients. I am no exception. Different struggles require different techniques and it’s important that we explore what works for you.
Having said that, it is also important that we practice theories that we fully believe in and identify with so that we can be authentic with our clients. I approach therapy from an existential lens, which in regards to counseling theory simply means that I believe each person is a unique blend of experiences, thoughts, and feelings, therefore it’s important to challenge the outside messages we receive and refocus our views to what we believe to be meaningful. Additionally, living a meaningful life does not mean we are always happy—it means we can accept that there will be struggles and upsets and, in spite of those inevitabilities, we have the capacity to manage the discomfort and embrace the joyful moments as often as we can.
Sometimes a client’s needs are of a more practical nature, when we need some real-life techniques to help us manage our feelings. When we come across these needs, I tend to utilize CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), which consists of using exercises and concepts to challenge our negative thought patterns, allowing us to have more control over adapting our behavior.