Definitions
Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy
Existential Psychotherapy is informed by existential philosophy based on the assumption of a world where meaning is constructed throughout life experiences and random occurrences, as opposed to a pre-existing and fixed set of beliefs to explain and make sense of existence. Choice, responsibility, anxiety, uncertainty and death are understood as givens of human existence, and their experience unavoidable. Existential counselling aims to help individuals to accept the inevitability of life difficulties and challenges, assisting and supporting them to face the problems of living with courage and responsibility for the choices they make.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy looks at the influences of the unconscious on our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Early childhood experiences may be explored to increase self-understanding and deepening insight into emotional conflicts underlying the presenting difficulties. Recognising and exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings, which may relate to primary emotional conflicts, and interpreting defensive processes obstructing emotional awareness, are some of the challenges of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.
Bereavement Counselling
Bereavement Counselling is an opportunity to talk with someone about the feelings of sadness, anger, guilt and resentment that might come up due to the loss of a loved one or a significant change in life. By reassessing the past and exploring the uncertainty of new possibilities for the future in a trusted and holding environment people can find their own way to come to terms with their loss.
Panic Attacks Treatment
Counselling is usually the most effective choice of treatment for panic disorders. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been proved to bring significant results by helping to ease the severity of symptoms and reduce the number of panic attacks. The treatment is usually tailored to individual circumstances working with clients to focus on the negative thinking patterns and behaviours that are triggering or sustaining the panic attacks. It prepares and equips people with coping skills to deal with future panic attacks.
CBT
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is grounded on the idea that thoughts and feelings are interrelated, and that emotions and behaviour are influenced by the perception of reality and the way in which a situation is interpreted. Information about oneself and about how the world operates is processed creates meaning. CBT can help individuals to identify their predominant operating patterns of negative thinking and help them to change to a more positive perception of themselves and the reality around them.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness practice is the intentional awareness and acceptance of thoughts, feelings, sensations and the surrounding environment, occurring in the present moment, without any judgment of whether they are right or wrong. It focuses on what is being sensed at each moment, as opposed to the endless process of rumination about the past or the future. Mindfulness can be used to alleviate some mental and physical conditions such as anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, drug addiction and chronic pain. It also helps individuals to see the patterns of the mind more clearly and to stay in the present moment. As thoughts come up, the focus should return to the breathing. In this way the mind wanders in acceptance in a non-judgmental way.