Theoretical Approach
My theoretical approach to counselling is integrative, which allows me to draw on various theories to create an individualized approach to working with clients unique to each client's experiences. Approaching clients with curiosity and humility can lead to a deeper exploration of presenting concerns and honouring the human experience. My integrative approach aims to help support clients where they are currently and what they want to change.
Initially, my focus is typically present-oriented, using both cognitive-behaviour (CBT) and solutional-focused (SFT) approaches. With CBT, I examine the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and how they may interact to create clients’ current concerns. Through CBT work, healthy thinking patterns are supported by addressing maladaptive underlying beliefs that fuel unhealthy thinking patterns. This, then, can help create an adaptive perception and interpretation of situations in daily life, positively affecting how one feels and reacts to those situations. Mindfulness, breath training, and relaxation techniques can support clients in increasing healthy coping strategies. With SFT, I emphasize clients’ strengths, resources, and ways to move them toward their goals by developing practical steps. I am always trying to gain a holistic understanding of clients’ unique experiences, which allows interventions to be tailored to clients’ needs.
In all my work, I am always focused on taking a person-centred and trauma-informed approach. Taking a person-centred approach, I want to demonstrate accurate empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard for clients, providing a non-judgmental environment to foster self-exploration, healing, acceptance, and personal growth. This allows for a strong therapeutic alliance, which is foundational counselling. Using a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes trust, safety, autonomy, and empowerment to foster change collaboratively with clients is vital to my theoretical approach.
Once clients are emotionally regulated and stabilized through various interventions, then the focus can turn to help process past traumas that may be keeping them from fulfilling their goals. I intend to collaborate and share the power to work with clients, taking feedback as I proceed through sessions. I explore worldview and choice of where to go in sessions and follow what is needed. Giving choice helps respect clients’ rights to self-determination and autonomy, which is a priority in trauma-informed counselling. Ensuring that clients are informed of all options for interventions that could be chosen is vital. I must always check in with clients, ensuring they are moving towards their goals and asking for feedback, which helps to see if things are working or if interventions need to be adjusted. Meeting clients where they are is crucial to my counselling work.
Initially, my focus is typically present-oriented, using both cognitive-behaviour (CBT) and solutional-focused (SFT) approaches. With CBT, I examine the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and how they may interact to create clients’ current concerns. Through CBT work, healthy thinking patterns are supported by addressing maladaptive underlying beliefs that fuel unhealthy thinking patterns. This, then, can help create an adaptive perception and interpretation of situations in daily life, positively affecting how one feels and reacts to those situations. Mindfulness, breath training, and relaxation techniques can support clients in increasing healthy coping strategies. With SFT, I emphasize clients’ strengths, resources, and ways to move them toward their goals by developing practical steps. I am always trying to gain a holistic understanding of clients’ unique experiences, which allows interventions to be tailored to clients’ needs.
In all my work, I am always focused on taking a person-centred and trauma-informed approach. Taking a person-centred approach, I want to demonstrate accurate empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard for clients, providing a non-judgmental environment to foster self-exploration, healing, acceptance, and personal growth. This allows for a strong therapeutic alliance, which is foundational counselling. Using a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes trust, safety, autonomy, and empowerment to foster change collaboratively with clients is vital to my theoretical approach.
Once clients are emotionally regulated and stabilized through various interventions, then the focus can turn to help process past traumas that may be keeping them from fulfilling their goals. I intend to collaborate and share the power to work with clients, taking feedback as I proceed through sessions. I explore worldview and choice of where to go in sessions and follow what is needed. Giving choice helps respect clients’ rights to self-determination and autonomy, which is a priority in trauma-informed counselling. Ensuring that clients are informed of all options for interventions that could be chosen is vital. I must always check in with clients, ensuring they are moving towards their goals and asking for feedback, which helps to see if things are working or if interventions need to be adjusted. Meeting clients where they are is crucial to my counselling work.
|
|