pay each session only if you feel it was of value
Why Counselling? Understand Causes of Your Challenges
Why Counselling?
Most people feel stuck or overwhelmed at many points in their life. Sometimes this experience lasts longer or is more intense than we care to deal with on our own. This is normal, and there is usually nothing wrong with you - you are experiencing a very challenging situation and are stuck regarding a way through.
Counselling can help shed light on causes of anxiety, depression, grief, lack of motivation. By raising awareness, we can work together helping you bring yourself more peace and life.
With the experience and training explained on the home page of this site, I am qualified, competent, and dedicated to working with a variety of challenges.
Caring for Yourself
We may spend a lot of time, effort, and money on taking care of our material things and physical appearance: Cars, houses, clothing and more. While these are necessary, we sometimes forget about how things are for ourselves. Spending time directly on yourself through counselling can be a valuable investment toward your wellness.
Why FYI Counselling?
With experience, qualifications, and dedication, I am interested in working toward what each client is seeking.
My person-centered approach means that you get to cover topics you feel are most important. With training and experience, I can help guide sessions toward effective outcomes for you - respecting that you remain the expert in your own life at all times. Meanwhile, I highly value how important it is to keep your information confidential.
Also, I enjoy my job very much which means you get the benefit of someone who is fully committed to the process and your outcome.
Counsellor, Psychologist, or Psychotherapist?
Counsellors, psychologists, and psychotherapists are meant to assist you to find your own path to cope, understand, and/or develop new ways of being that work for you. So what’s the difference?
Difference #1 (Psychology & Counselling & Psychotherapy):
For psychologists, there is a minimum level of qualification required by a government branch (AHPRA) in registering and applying standards that the psychologist has to meet each year. For example a counsellor or psychotherapist does not have to have any qualification to call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist; a psychologist must have completed 6 years of specific study to call themselves a psychologist. While it may be nice to know you're working with someone trained in a government accredited program, it is only part of the equation. Research shows the one most impactful factor (~30% of outcome quality) depends on how well you feel your clinician connects with you. A counsellor or psychotherapist or psychologist may have excellent qualifications and abilities - it is important you check qualifications for all psychologists and counsellors, and pick one who resonates for you most. Personally, I have completed near 10 years of training including over 8 full time years of university. Four years were to complete an engineering degree, two years to complete a counselling degree and over two years for a psychology graduate diploma and psychology degree.
Difference #2 (Psychology & Counselling & Psychotherapy):
One aspect defining psychology is the research aspect of university training. There is a relatively heavy emphasis on statistical analysis as well as on research methods, design, and interpretation. This is meant to encourage psychologists to use evidence-based methods. For counsellors and psychotherapists, there is often less emphasis on these areas in training. However, evidence-based service is always encouraged and essentially required through counselling and psychotherapy professional membership bodies.
Difference #3 (Psychology & Counselling & Psychotherapy):
Psychologists are trained in formal diagnosis and assessment. Some psychologists choose not to diagnose at all. Some people get better outcomes with a diagnostic style and others like the flow of a non-diagnostic approach. Ultimately, you are best to go with what resonates for you. Personally, as a counsellor, I do not formally diagnose. I occasionally refer to a diagnostic manual if it may assist clients who wish to find their way toward a formal diagnosis with another professional.
Difference #4 (Counselling & Psychotherapy):
Counselling and psychotherapy are different, but they overlap a lot. Primarily, counselling is more "present" focused on today's challenges and psychotherapy delves into earlier life experiences and how they've influenced us today. With psychotherapy, there may be more emphasis on subconscious processes. My style incorporates both approaches as needed, and psychologists may also work more or less from one or the other perspective, or both.
Similarity #1: (Psychology & Counselling & Psychotherapy):
As long as your counsellor or psychotherapist is registered as a professional member of a reputable counselling or psychotherapy association, like psychologists, they are also required to meet stringent standards for academic training and experience, are fully insured, and are bound by a strict code of ethics meant to protect and benefit clients. The most important single factor is how well you feel you and the professional are working together - just like interactions with anyone in your life, if you feel a genuine connection, you're likely to get more done! Research shows better outcomes when you feel you and the counsellor work well together. Focusing on the connection could enhance outcomes for you. Follow your gut: If you feel you work well together, keep going. If you feel otherwise, perhaps a shift to a new counsellor could be a better fit for better results.
