Karen Cook   

Counselling Therapies

 

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Solution Focused Therapy

Mindfulness

Self-Compassion/Love

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

OEI

Life Stress Relief/

Trauma Incident Reduction

Inner Child Work/Heal Wounds 

Life Coaching

Positive Psychology

Attachment

Psychoanalysis

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What To Expect in Counselling

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It can feel intimidating to seek the help of a counsellor, especially when you are feeling stuck, inadequate, and deeply in need of the right answers, but when you show up for counselling you will find a relaxed atmosphere, a place to freely talk, and new possibilities for your life. 

 

​I will partner with you in the counselling relationship.  In the beginning stage of counselling, I will work to establish a safe place where you can tell your story.  This will allow me to know what you want to work on in the counselling process and you can begin to take steps towards recovery.  

 

Once we know what you want to accomplish, I will help you to understand your difficulties better and how they came about.  This can reduce some of the struggle you are feeling.

 

From here, we can start to look deeper into your problem; the troubling thoughts and feelings you may or may not be aware of, and the behaviors around these.  Significant events and patterns may surface that play a role in your difficult circumstances.  Sometimes just talking about these brings clarity, understanding and healing.  More often tools and healing strategies help to bring about a positive change and resolution that helps you create a new pathway in these areas.  As these changes begin to show up in your life, you will know the reward of having been able to process your story and of the good work you have done and you will be encouraged to continue to create change to improve your life.

 

As you near your counselling goals, we can begin meeting much less often to allow you to walk out the new understanding and changes but still be able to check in and make any necessary adjustments or find the support you might still need.  The length of time for counselling will vary.  Some people come for a few session, many more come from a four or more months, and some need even a longer time to reach full recovery.  

 

 

My Approach to Counselling

 

I consider it an honor to hear people's stories and to work with you in the healing process.  You are a unique individual and I will develope a counselling plan that will fit your needs and circumstances and together we will walk you through the difficulty and into the place that is right for you. It will be like having a guide to help you clarify what you are going through and assist you in deciding which way to go from there.  I believe your life is valuable, has great worth and that you are here for a reason.  

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Counselling Theories I Use:

 

Your thoughts, feelings, body, relationship, circumstances and your spiritual life are all important things to look at when recovering your health and life through counselling, so the therapies I use support this belief.  All these areas are connected and changing one part of your life can have a positive impact on the other areas.  Not everyone has a spiritual life and that is ok, the recovery plan will be designed to fit your life.

 

Some of the counselling methods I use include:

 

• • Attachment - our attachment styles plays a roll in our relationship with ourselves and others.

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - looks at a persons thoughts to see how they effect emotion and behaviour.

  • Inner Child Work - wounding often begins during our developmental years and can lead to such things as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, & having a strong inner critic.  Inner Child Work heals the original wound, which shifts the issue we are working on.

  • Positive Psychology - moves the focuses to what is right, on what resources and skills individuals do have, and on what is present and can lead to happiness.

  • Mindfulness - paying attention, on purpose to help build awareness that helps you make better choices, lower your stress/anxiety and rewire your brain which changes your thinking and emotions.

  • Self-Compassion - creating a healthy and connected relationship with yourself which fosters healing, greater security, improved choices and better relationships.

  • Self- Love - your relationship with yourself is the foundation of adult wholeness/

  • Solution focused and client centred.  Sometimes you lead, sometimes I will.  It's a collaboration.

  • Body Therapy - focus on the body to release stress, trauma and aid the nervous system.

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a skilled based therapy towards distress tolerance, mindfulness, Interpersonal Therapy and emotion regulation.

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Call now for a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation to answer any questions or book a meeting.  I look forward to talking with you.