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| My Practice You will experience a safe and respectful environment where a trusting professional relationship can be fostered. Allow yourself the right to explore difficult feelings, to be heard and understood and to drastically change the quality of your life. An ethical level of confidentiality underpins my practice. Applied Theory I use a variety of different theoretical approaches which can be tailored to suit the individual and their situation. These include person-centred, solution focused therapies with a strengths based perspective, some of which are listed below: • Positive Psychology - Psychology traditionally focused on understanding and treating mental illness – (rescuing from the bottom of the cliff). However the field of Positive Psychology is the study of mental health – (building a fence at the top of the cliff). Evidence based, scientific research suggests certain key elements help people to flourish and thrive. As well as being pivotal in the recovery from mental illness, these elements are a fundamental component of sustaining personal equilibrium, happiness, fulfilment and the motivation required to set and attain goals. • Attachment Theory - An attachment pattern is established in early childhood and continues to function as a working model in adulthood. This model of attachment influences how each of us reacts to our needs and how we go about getting them met. Attachment styles comprise various combinations of Secure, Insecure, Avoidant, Anxious and Dismissive behaviour patterns. Getting to know your attachment style can help to uncover your strengths, vulnerabilities and defence mechanisms – the ways in which you defend/prevent yourself from being emotionally connected. I can help facilitate a conscious shift away from any maladaptive style of attachment to a healthy, secure attachment pattern. • Neuroplasticity - Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt. Physiological changes occur in the brain as a result of our interactions with our environment. When we learn something new, we create new connections between our neurons. We rewire our brains to adapt to new circumstances. This happens naturally on a daily basis, but it’s also something that we can encourage and stimulate. We can strengthen and/or weaken neural pathways and get the brain to work for us more effectively. • Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) - EFT is a form of energy psychology. The cause of negative emotion can often be attributed to a disruption in the body’s flow of energy. It makes sense that trauma, grief, loss, stress or any negative life experience, can cause an energy blockage in the body’s system which in turn effects the way we think, the way we feel and the way we behave. By tapping on certain meridian points we can help clear the blockages and get the mind and body working together more productively. • Non-Violent Communication (NVC) - NVC was developed by Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg to aid empathic interpersonal communication. This language of the heart helps individuals listen, share and understand their feelings, needs and truths. It provides a set of tools to improve and sustain the quality of our lives and relationships. • Mindfulness & Meditation - Taking time to regularly tune in to ourselves through mindfulness and meditation, offers untold benefits for our health, well-being, relationships and success. When we can observe our thinking, we become aware of how our thought processes have enormous power over the way we experience life. Mindfulness and meditation can bring lasting relief and aid the treatment of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). • Collaborative Teamwork - I believe in treating the individual as a whole. At times the best results may be gained from teamwork and I am fortunate to have colleagues with expertise in a variety of other health fields. As a collective, we can unravel persistent problems from multiple methods of competency. • Counselling/Hypnotherapy Sessions - Counselling in conjunction with clinical hypnotherapy can be very useful in treating anxiety, PTSD, phobias and a number of other issues. When the body is in a deep state of relaxation, the therapist is able to communicate with the mind at a deeper subconscious level and make healthful/healing suggestions relevant to the symptoms being experienced. Activities and Experience I have been enmeshed in the field of Human Services for a number of years. I care deeply about life and humanity. My love of people and fascination with human potential has opened some interesting doors, some of which are listed below: • Action for Happiness - I co-facilitate a course exploring what really matters in today’s environment. Action for Happiness is a not-for-profit organisation founded in the UK with the Dalai Lama as patron. The 8 week course helps people take action for a happier and more caring world. Participants are encouraged to actively increase their own personal well-being, the well-being of their relationships and well-being in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. • Iwi Community Justice Panel (Te Pae Oranga) - I offer my time voluntarily as a facilitator and panel member to the Iwi Community Justice panel. Using the principles of restorative justice and run by Community Law in partnership with the Police, the panel in collaboration with the victim and offender, determine an appropriate course of action, reparation and/or mentoring for low level offending. • Humanitarian work - A brief period living in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, brought about participation in humanitarian work as a volunteer. Poverty, gender inequality, social exclusion and corruption, were rampant. We provided support to the sectors of education, health and psycho-social well-being. Fund-raising activities contributed to the supply of much needed medical equipment and educational tools. • The Sophie Elliot Foundation - I support the "Loves-Me-Not" programme and the remarkable work of Lesley Elliot and Bill O'Brien in actively addressing relationship violence. • Child Crisis Line - I had the privilege of being involved with the inception of the first child crisis line in Christchurch, run in conjunction with Life-line and Youth-line. • Adult Adoption Support Group - I participated in the early days of the Adult Adoption Support Group in Christchurch. • Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand - I donate a portion of my fees to support suicide prevention, Mauri Tu, Mauri Ora and the work of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Terms A contract outlining the Terms and Conditions of engagement will be presented at the preliminary session. |