About Therapy

In my view, counselling therapy represents an extraordinary opportunity to take stock of who you are and what you want at this particular moment in your life.  What is it that you find yourself dwelling upon these days?  Which emotions are most colouring your sense of self, and your relationships?  What possibilities are – or are not – currently available to you?  And most importantly, how will you make use of the answers that you uncover, to become more essentially and courageously yourself?  These are some of the questions that we might explore if we begin working together.

My particular approach to counselling is highly relational, integrative, embodied, and non-pathologising.  This means four things:

1

I believe that the supportive and radically non-judgmental bond that you and I will foster can itself serve as a safe testing ground for new ways of thinking, feeling, and being. After all, counselling is not just about achieving insight; it’s also about bringing that insight to life within your relationships, your work, your hobbies, and your community.

2

I don’t believe that there is any one “best” kind of counselling that will serve everybody equally. Instead, I draw upon several different therapeutic approaches - including existential, cognitive-behavioural (CBT), and psychodynamic – to support a bespoke process that is reflective of your innate individuality. I'm also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Gottman Couples Counselling. Please navigate to the Fees and FAQ page to learn more about these three approaches.

3

I believe that our emotions serve as the foundations of our consciousness. Indeed, unlike most other functions of our being, it’s impossible for our emotions to be unconscious: by definition, they must be felt – and it’s when we feel that we’re at our most conscious. This means that the body itself is an invaluable ally in the therapeutic process.

4

I believe that every psychological experience is of value – even those that feel confusing, embarrassing, frightening, or terrible.  The mind is inherently self-protective, and when we suffer, it’s likely our mind’s way of signalling to us that we need to make a change.  Counselling helps us to decipher our suffering, and to respond more openly to our mind’s call.

Explore a Wide Variety of Issues

As a psychological counsellor, I’m equipped to explore a wide variety of issues, including:

  • Ageing Concerns
  • Alexithymia (i.e., Emotional Self-Awareness) 
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Anger Management
  • Behavioural Addiction 
  • Bereavement
  • Chronic Pain
  • Consensual Non-Monogamy 
  • Depression
  • Discrimination
  • Divorce
  • Eco Anxiety 
  • Gender Identity
  • General Anxiety 
  • Immigrant / Expat Challenges 
  • LGBTQIA2S Identity
  • Life Transition and Change
  • Loneliness
  • Low Self-Esteem
  • Men's Issues
  • Military / Veteran / First Responder Mental Health
  • Moral Injury
  • Obsessive-Compulsiveness (OCD)
  • Positive Psychology / Personal Growth
  • Phobia
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Relationship Difficulties
  • Sexual Difficulties
  • Social Anxiety
  • Spiritual/Existential Crisis
  • Work- or School-Related Stress

Finally, I note that counselling is not mere advice. In my own experience, it’s a brave, exciting, and oftentimes challenging exploration of the woods and the mountains of the mind. It’s both an experiment and an adventure: one that you and I will embark upon side by side, in pursuit of your own Self.  A bit like Walt Whitman once wrote: “Failing to fetch me at first, keep encouraged.  Missing me in one place, search another.  I stop somewhere, waiting for you.”

 

If you would like to learn more about my approach to counselling, I would invite you to contact me, and to book a free 30-minute introductory session.

©2021 Carl Conradi

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