Humanistic Counselling
Humanistic counselling has been developing over the past 60 years within the larger field of therapeutic counselling. The focus is predominantly on the individual’s unique story and their potential to explore; this includes self-learning, creativity, acceptance and empathy.
My goal is to create a space which is non-judgmental, supportive and understanding, in a setting which is always safe and confidential.
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My approach is based on three key principles:
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Staying connected with oneself: the client uses the space and time without hiding behind a professional or personal façade.
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Acceptance and support is provided by the counsellor regardless of what the client says or does.
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Empathy for the client’s challenges and difficulties.
Above all, humanistic counselling adheres to the belief that the client has vast resources for self-understanding, for altering their attitudes, and for putting in place new ways of behaving.
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Through this approach, a person develops a deeper understanding of themselves, what they feel and why, and they have the opportunity to explore the possibility of making new choices. A space is created which is non-judgmental, supportive and understanding, in a setting which is always safe and confidential.
Identity: sense of oneself and sexuality; life crisis and transition; searching for purpose and meaning.
Distress/Trauma: stress, abuse, negative thoughts and feelings, low self esteem, depression, anxiety.
Loss: bereavement, grief, loss; relationship breakdown; coping with memories, thoughts and feelings.
Relationships: establishing and maintaining relationships, feeling trapped, anger management and parental bonds.
The therapeutic approach focuses on you and your world and provides an empathetic, attentive and accepting space in which you can explore the past, present and future, instead of concentrating on one specific period of time. There are other types of humanistic counselling, all of which involve creating a close relationship between oneself and the therapist. These include Gestalt and Transactional Analysis which are used in the sessions to support the journey.