Connect Couples Counselling Centre

25/02/2025

06/09/2024

My monthly newsletter is meant to inspire you to reflect, act, and develop greater confidence and relational intelligence in all of your relationships.

05/03/2024

We are currently having problems with the Connect phone. Kindly make contact with us via email in the meantime. Our email address is info@connectcentre.co.za. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

22/08/2023

23/05/2023

Using the wise mind can enhance the sense of connection for couples 😊❤️

22/05/2023

04/04/2023

Connect therapists taking a little time out to connect with one another ❤️

05/01/2023

It takes a lot to sustain intimacy in a relationship. For those with BPD, it can feel impossible.

08/12/2022

Very useful in helping clients to know what to expect from the first session. With couples, there is also a focus on what is happening in the relationship.

Psychologists are trained to seek to understand their clients without judgment, and alway treat them with empathy and respect.

That being said, it's still pretty scary going into that therapy room for first time. Most people are terrified of having to "open up" and share their stories with a complete stranger – understandably so!

Many people don't know what to expect. So I've jotted down the main components of a psychological assessment. Remember, all psychologists have their own preferences, but a clinical assessment contains the following basic information:

Demographic information – your name, birth date etc

Presenting problems – what brings you to therapy

Family history – who they are, your relationship with them, what they do, their significant medical or psychiatric conditions

Personal history – your story, from birth to now. Your development from infancy, and medical or psychological challenges, any trauma

Mental state exam – your current psychological functioning. This is the most frequently used mental health assessment.

In addition to the above, the psychologist is also trained to observe your non-verbal behaviour. But it's not just about collecting information. Therapists are trained to integrate the various aspects of patients' histories in such a way that it explains their challenges and guides their treatment.

Psychologists are a diverse bunch, and practice many different types of therapies. Ultimately the goal of the assessment is to truly understand what the client is struggling with, and to formulate a treatment plan which is best suited to that individual.

So if you're thinking about seeing a therapist, I hope that this post helps you make the decision to take the proverbial plunge.

01/12/2022

A relationship evaluation technique from Anne Lamott.