NDIS

Psychologists and counsellors are both mental health practitioners.

Counselling is a therapy aimed at helping people who are experiencing troubling psychological symptoms: that is, difficult thoughts and feelings (e.g. trauma, depression, anxiety) and undesirable behaviours, such as addiction, self-harm, etc. Counselling is a way of understanding and helping people get better by focusing on thoughts, feeling and resultant behaviours. Counsellors are highly skilled in applying integrative therapies. Integrative therapy focuses
on the goals of the patient and family in the context of values, culture, and community.

Counsellors help their clients to understand and cope with difficult issues and develop solutions to make changes to their lives. Usually engage clients for a short term to address a specific problem.

Psychologists are experts in human emotions, behaviours and mental health processes. They use scientific methods to study the elements that affect the way people think, feel and learn. They use evidence-based strategies to diagnose and treat mental illnesses non medicinally in an ongoing capacity.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind (e.g. thoughts) and behaviour (e.g. actions), as well as our emotional states that interact with mind and behaviour. Psychology studies humans as well as animals, it is interested in the biological bases of mind and behaviour (i.e. the brain and nervous system), and takes in the influence of social and cultural processes on our thoughts and actions. It may or may not be interested in mental health. Psychology is essentially an investigative science, but can also be applied in many areas of life, such as education, clinical therapies, organisations, design, to name just a few. A psychologist’s scope of practice typically includes administration of a wide range of tests including IQ tests and tests of neurological function. Psychologists may administer tests to patients they do not see on a regular basis. Psychologists are more likely to work with individuals with serious mental illness.

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.

Counselling Fee

Costs vary greatly and range from $80 to $150 a session. However, I am happy also to negotiate a fee based on your capacity to pay.

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.