‘We need to find the courage to say no to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity”. Barbara DeAngelis
The underlying principle of how I work is strongly influenced by Existential Philosophy. As the quote above says living our lives with authenticity means mankind is challenged to take responsibility for how they will live their life.
There are lots of different kinds of existentialism and existential therapies, its not just one thing it’s a whole family or genre of different approaches and perspectives on a whole range of questions – such as meaning, purpose, spirituality, what life is all about and so much more. I work mostly in Existential Time-Limited Therapy approach.
What is Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy
Existentialism breaks away from putting labels on a persons’ life. It begins with the concrete aspects of being human. It is a question about what your life is really like? It is a way of working with you that tries to avoid making lots of assumptions. Questions that are more likely to be asked include “what is going on in your life, what are your struggles, difficulties and conflicts” and then talking about helping you to move forward in the direction you choose, drawing on your strengths and limitations. Its an approach about facing up to life as it is and making sense of it.
What is Existential Time-Limited Counselling
Life is busy – too busy at times and time is of the essence or time is money – so the saying goes. The Time-Limited Approach allows both the Therapist and the client to agree on a specific number of sessions but always with the end in sight. Using the Existential Time Limited approach allows clients to commit to the agreed number of sessions, knowing that this temporary relationship will have an ending and that a sense of being contained in an approach that doesn’t have an end in sight allows for a sense of commitment to work through what life is challenging you.
Why come along for Counselling?
In coming along to counselling you are taking the first step in discovering a meaningful life with purpose and possibilities. Today people are looking for happiness in a difficult world. Existentialism begins with the premise that life is a challenge. Life can be tough and you will have faced difficulties, experienced tragedy, loss and that life is never as perfect as you want it to be. Finding happiness is a constant journey to being fulfilled in life.
Are you ready to make a conscious choice to explore what is important to you and how you want to live your life?
Together we will navigate your present situation and explore the impact this is having. You will find that you have made choices knowingly and unknowingly for how you are living your life today. From this point you can decide what you want to explore and if you want to take steps towards change. This includes bringing awareness to how your are living your life today. Some people live in the past while others avoid the present and only look to the future. There will be issues from your past that may dominate your life that influence your decisions. However, as important the past is, you cannot change it. In looking at how you are currently living, means you can take control of the past and ultimately responsibility for living your life the way you choose.
At the heart of Existentialism is the relationship
Research has strongly supported the idea that the healing of any counselling process is the relationship itself. The focus of the between-ness of the relationship is explored and developed as we travel the healing road together. It is the relationship that helps the painful wounds and trauma of the past heal and become less of the focus. This is an area where I work on a consistent basis with my clients. Its at the heart of my work. The outcome is movement towards a meaningful and importnat relationship that allows for honesty and healing.
Contact me to make an appointment today.
phone 0407 916 076 or email – info@changehappens.com.au
It’s a positive start to making change happen in your life.
