I’m often asked what counselling and psychotherapy really are. In a nutshell, I’d say that the process, however long or short it may be, is about assisting you to achieve emotional and personal growth while gaining deeper self-insight and awareness. I have created a safe space where you can relax in a confidential environment designed to help us explore and work through whatever life challenges you may be experiencing.
My work has enabled me to develop my expertise in specific areas; namely counselling and psychotherapy for adults including individual and couples, careers counselling, HIV/AIDS training and counselling, s*x therapy and LGBTI+-based work. My work includes both private practice and corporate wellness management, such as workplace HIV/AIDS-related programmes. My corporate experience and work with young adults includes counselling, activism projects, the development and facilitation of HIV/AIDS wellness programmes and creating and hosting talks and workshops. "Sometimes the best thing we can offer the people with whom we work is to go into the darkness together, armed with the knowledge that we have survived the darkness before and can help them find their way out of the cave. We can convey our confidence that we both will come up into the daylight, perhaps initially blinded by the brightness, certainly wary and tired, yet safely armed with new skills for transversing outside the familiarity of the dark cave. Acknowledging the not-knowing may be one of the most important keys to supporting others with care and compassion". (Solomon & Tatkon, 2011)
Today my practice is geared to help a diverse range of individuals and couples who may be facing a wide range of difficulties such as adjustment, trauma, mood or anxiety issues, struggles with their career or other life stage challenges or questions around relationships, gender identity and s*xuality, My approach varies depending on each specific person, because everyone is different, but I come from a psychodynamic understanding of human nature. That means that I believe we are complex creatures, with many feelings, thoughts, conflicts, and wishes we may not be aware of. This also means that I believe healing happens in the context of the relationship people develop with their psychotherapist. It is probably one of the few places where you can be yourself, free from expectations put on you by others. Counselling and psychotherapy have no guarantees and results really depend on your expectations and willingness to make the changes necessary to improve your own psychological well-being. To give counselling and psychotherapy the foundation it needs, I encourage continual discussion about your expectations, progress and goals with you. While the thought of counselling and psychotherapy can be unsettling, the risks taken in working through difficult emotions and events can also be helpful in terms of coping, self-awareness and overall mental health. Although counselling can be brief and psychotherapy can be a long term journey, it is not a sprint race. I strive to be non-judgmental and accepting of every single part of the people I work with, to really see them and value them for who they are. I welcome all the feelings and thoughts they bring. There is nothing that cannot be talked about
YOUR VISIONS WILL BECOME CLEAR ONLY WHEN YOU CAN LOOK INTO YOUR OWN HEART. ONE WHO LOOKS OUTSIDE, DREAMS. ONE WHO LOOKS INSIDE, AWAKENS.
– C.G.
