What is Counselling?
Counselling provides you with a safe, confidential and therapeutic environment in which to talk about your life and anything that may be distressing, confusing, stressful, and anything that leads you to be depressed or anxious, is painful, or uncomfortable.
It allows you to talk with a professional who is trained to listen attentively, offers different perspectives, and provides opportunities for you to work towards living a more emotionally, socially, balanced and fulfilling life.
What is a Professional Counsellor?
Professional counsellors complete either Masters or Doctorate degrees in counselling. Professional counsellors view counselling as the professional relationship between the client and counsellor that empowers individuals, couples, families and groups to acquire and maintain mental health, wellness, personal growth, education, and career development.
Professional counsellors seldom give advice or work towards convincing clients to do something. Instead, professional counsellors are therapists whose main intention is to provide guidance. Professional counsellors facilitate clients in coming to their own conclusions and making their own decisions/choices with regard to their issues of concern. In turn, professional counsellors may then suggest ways to effectively address personal issues of concern.
Is Counselling an Instant Cure?
Unlike some medical conditions, personal issues that clients bring to counselling cannot be immediately cured or resolved by a counsellor or talk therapist. Counselling may be a lengthy process depending on the nature of the client’s issues and many other factors.
For instance, if a client’s issues have existed for long periods of time and have not been addressed; it may take longer to overcome. Participating in counselling can be viewed as a personal journey. Some clients acquire skills that can be used for many years after they stop counselling. Other clients may make changes and only use acquired skills in the short term. Yet other clients may temporarily gain relief from a personal issue of concern.
Does Counselling Work for Everyone?
Each individual is unique and will realize different results from their therapy experience. Transformations Counselling Services Therapy can help active participants to become more self-aware and prepared to deal more effectively with the challenges of life.
- Make the choice to take full responsibility for their lives
- Invest in developing a positive/collaborative relationship with their counselor
- Are as honest as they can possibly be with their counselor
- Open up to new ways of thinking and behaving
- Deal with the discomfort/emotional pain that may come up as a result of the counseling process
- Accept the responsibility of doing most of the work in counselling
- Allow themselves to be guided by the counselor
- Take responsibility for identifying what needs to be changed and then work towards making appropriate changes a reality
- Gives their best efforts both within and outside of counselling sessions
Transformations Counselling Services values and respects diversity and is dedicated to treating each client as an individual with unique needs, including cultural or spiritual considerations. We specialize in meeting the needs of women in our community, including adolescents and those with disabilities. Men wanting to enhance their life experiences including with women are also welcome to benefit from engaging in the counselling process.
At Transformations Counselling Services an “eclectic” approach is taken by Gillian Robbins, PhD. The following theoretical frameworks are used in her treatment planning and implementation: Cognitive Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Existentialism, and Mindfulness (depending on the treatment needs of the particular client).
Choosing a counsellor or talk therapist is a deeply personal decision. Transformations Counselling Services encourages you to ask your counsellor or talk therapist the following questions so that you can determine who best fits your needs.
- What type of therapy do you offer?
- What may be expected from me?(For example, personal reflection)
- What happens if I miss a session?
- What happens if I take vacation?
- Will the counselling be confidential?
- Are the sessions recorded, and if so, what happens to these?
- Can I contact my therapist in between sessions?
If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact Dr. Gillian Robbins at any time.