My Counselling Philosophy
I believe all people know what is best for them, therefore I do not make decisions for my client, but let the client reach their own understanding as part of the therapy journey.
No matter what your cultural background, level of education or skills you have, you have the same worth as anyone else and deserve to have joy in your life. As your counsellor, I encourage you to respect your distinctiveness and appreciate your uniqueness in the world.
I respect your autonomy and am committed to maintaining your confidentiality.
Who I am as a Counsellor
My values of attending to you, empathising, and accepting you are important. I am passionate about helping people make positive changes in their lives and I find that I am able to do that effectively through the creative therapies.
Who I work with
I provide individual counselling for adults and children and facilitate creative workshops. I work with Individuals who have experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, and grief.
Counselling Treatment Approach
I follow a rounded therapy approach where we explore your presenting problem from a holistic perspective and take into account all areas in your life. For example physical, social and family life issues are discussed and considered as they relate to your identified problems.
Everyone has different ways of processing their experiences therefore I take into consideration what will suit you the best and adapt the counseling sessions to fit you and your needs.
I use a number of creative therapies as appropriate in my work such as Mindful Therapy, Art Therapy, Sandplay, and Person Centered-therapy.
Below is a description of the benefits of some of the counselling methods I use.
Creative Art Therapies
Art Therapy uses art as a way of personal expression to communicate your feelings. Your skill in art is irrelevant. The focus is on the process, rather than the end result. This means you do not have to be artistic to benefit from art therapy.
Through our art therapy sessions, you will experience your emotions and feelings through art without being judged for your artistic skills or for anything you create.
Do I have to do Art Therapy?
No, you don’t have to participate in art therapy. I offer various other therapy methods that are effective (see below). Every client is unique and thus, requires a unique approach. Although we all have similar feelings or experiences, we don’t all share the same ways of healing and recovery.
“Every time I finish a session with Dalit I look with amazement at the work I produce! I see things a lot clearer and I can see how far I progressed in my journey”. Ms A
“I couldn’t believe what a big shift I felt after the art therapy session I had with Dalit. My awareness of how I am in the world changed. I felt the most important thing in my life at this moment is to be true to my self.
I am very grateful for this awareness!” Mrs S.
Benefits of Art Therapy
Art therapy can bring deeper and lasting positive changes as it taps into deeper thoughts and feelings than verbal therapy. With talk therapy, you can sometimes get to these deeper thoughts and feelings, but it often takes longer.
Below are some benefits of art therapy:
- Helps with self-expression and self-exploration, especially when words are difficult to find.
- Can help you be more aware of, and understand, your feelings better, which can then help you make changes more easily.
- Helps release intense overwhelming feelings such as, anger, frustration and grief, and consequently, you may feel more calm and in control.
- Helps you look at a situation from the outside, as if you are looking at a picture. It helps you create emotional distance from the problem so that you can more easily shift your perception of it. This makes it easier to resolve.
- Communicating with the therapist through the image/picture can sometimes make it easier to address issues.
- If you are feeling stuck and unmotivated, art therapy can help you get more engaged in your life.
- It is enjoyable. Many people develop an interest in art following the art therapy.
Mindful Therapy
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity and without judgment.
Mindfulness is simply awareness. What is so wonderful about mindfulness is that attention and awareness is shared by all of us. These practices are universal; anyone can practice the present moment.
When we are aware of what’s going on.
What is happening right now?
Pause to ask yourself many times during the day, “what am I experiencing now? What’s the truth of what is happening in my body, mind and feeling?”
If something unpleasant is there, try to open to it rather than push it away. If something pleasant is there, notice how your mindfulness increases the pleasantness of this experience.
Benefits of Mindfulness
- Reduce worries, anxiety and distress
- Create a sense of calm
- Learn how to relax and regulate emotions
- Improve concentration and increased productivity
- Develop sense of empathy and connectedness
- Enjoy better health and sleep
What is Person-centered Approach?
Carl Rogers developed Client Centered therapy in the 1940’s and 1950’s and believed a non-directive therapeutic approach could facilitate growth and healing within the client.
According to Carl Rogers, in the person-centered approach the client has within himself or herself vast resources for self- understanding. This approach focuses on the ‘here and now’ principle, and encourages clients to explore and create positive change for themselves.
In order for change to occur, the therapeutic relationship must have 3 important elements:
- Genuineness – the more the therapist is himself in the relationship, the greater is the likelihood that the client will grow in a constructive manner.
- Unconditional positive regard. Creating a climate for change by accepting the client where he or she is.
- Empathic understanding – listening without judgment, truly being present for the client
Benefits of Person-centered Approach
- It encourages self-expression, self-awareness, self-development.
- It recognises and values the client.
- It encouraged the client to focus on the present and look forward!
I resonate with this approach’s main goal of releasing emotional distress, mental confusion and/or limiting beliefs. Person Centered supports the client with the opportunity to become more self aware, and more in control of creating the changes clients desire.
I use empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard, throughout the one-to-one counselling relationship with my client, and I hope it will provide my client understanding, clarity and support, in order to make steady progress to self-realisation.
I feel gratitude and honored that I am able to work as a counselor and accompany you in your life journey.
If you think we might be a good fit to work together in counselling please contact me.