The Purpose and Benefits from the Therapeutic Relationship

“Our minds are not created alone; they are co-created. 
Our nervous system is ready to be taught by other people’s nervous systems, which transforms us”. 

Daniel Stern 
Psychologist

Being attuned to, is important when attending therapy/counselling.
To be empathised in a meaningful way, is required both in qualitative and quantitative ways, assisting in the recovery toward emotional, psychological and physiological wellbeing.

The purpose of the attuned therapeutic relationship assists in the laying down of new neurological connections to the brain.  This process supports you to connect inner thoughts to emotions and help make sense of your experiences that support meaningful change.

The development of an interpersonal exchange is established in the relationship over time, resulting from the safety and security experienced with and toward the therapist.   The therapist stays attuned to your moment by moment experience in the “here and now”, an invaluable interaction for personal transformation.
 
Of course this can create a certain amount of anxiety and/or joy.  It can leave positive or challenging experiences in the therapeutic relationship in that moment.  These experiences provide you with a learning opportunity to re-engage and become involved in the repairing of these difficulties with “another person”, in this instance the therapist, after a disturbance or a shift has occurred in the exchange.
 
The security gained in the relationship will help you regulate difficulties experienced in communication.  It will also support you to gain a higher capacity to tolerate emotional distress and move forward in empowering and energized ways.

New and positive experiences are always being created, assisting you with the internal and inter-personal changes you’ve hoped for.  Therapy therefore becomes the learning ground of recognising and experiencing your strength to safely express, powerful and overwhelming emotions and thoughts that you may not have been able to do so in the past.  

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Tess Tokatlidis, General Counsellor / Psychotherapist
Associate Member of AASP, Dip Somatic Psychotherapy,
Specialist Relationship Therapy R.A., Ass. Dip. Welfare Studies
T. 9639 3875; 0401 902 702; E. tess@counselcc.net.au

Appointments may also be made online at:
http://appointment.counselcc.net.au.

 

Cultural Confusion

“What is my cultural identity?” “Do I need to identify strongly with only one ethnic group in order to be normal?” “Why do others keep expecting me to act in a certain way, just because of how I look?” “What does it mean to be Australian?” “It seems like I just don’t fit in anywhere!!!”

Living in a multicultural and diverse metropolitan like Melbourne gives us the benefit of learning from countless of different ethnic/cultural groups, and the freedom of expressing ourselves in very unique ways without too many social expectations. Circa 40% of the population in Melbourne was born overseas. Many of us are able to find others whom we are able to connect and feel at home with. Some of us break out of the conventions we were taught by our families, in order to be the person we really want to be or believe we were supposed to be. Most of us pick and choose what to keep or shed from our upbringing, and what to adopt or not adopt from others.

All well and good, unless you are feeling a little confused about who you are and how you should be acting. Seeing that most of us find it difficult to tolerate ambiguity, we all find ourselves a little perplexed about our identity from time to time, as identity and culture seem so fluid and ever-changing. At times, this confusion of self can lead to great distress and debilitation.

Why not take some time to discover YOU? The counsellors at Counsel@CrossCulture would be happy to assist you in this exciting journey of uncovering your unique self and the person you would like to become. 

Article by Lainey Weiss, General Counsellor

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Now with six General Counsellors on our team, no referral
necessary and cost between $10 - $70 depending on your
employment situation.  There’s no better time to take ACTION toward a better you!

T. 9639 3875; http://appointment.counselcc.net.au.

Photos:  freedigitalimages.net

 

Struggling to get over the breakdown of a long-term relationship?

Anyone who gets married or enters a relationship does so with the hope of living ‘happily ever after’.  Unfortunately however, in Australia up to 50% of marriages end in divorce.  Whether you’ve been married or in a relationship that hasn’t worked out, it can be difficult to move on and forget about the past.  The breakdown of a relationship can be very painful; especially when you have invested so much of yourself into what you thought was forever.  You may feel like you can’t live without your partner and feel depressed and lonely.  Perhaps you’re struggling with identity issues as previously you were part of a couple and now you’re single.

If you need support in being able to grieve the loss of a relationship, learning from the past in order to move forward, then please contact Marina Dyson at Counsel@CrossCulture.

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Marina Dyson, General Counsellor
Associate of CCAA, Adv Dip Christian Counselling & Family Therapy
T. 0402 345 039; E. marina@counselcc.net.au

Marina Dyson works with individuals and couples experiencing grief and loss, depression, anxiety, marriage and relationship
difficulties and those seeking career guidance or general support during life transitions.  Marina also speaks Italian.

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Now with six General Counsellors on our team, no referral necessary
and cost between $10 - $70 depending on your employment situation.  There’s no better time to take ACTION toward a better you!

T. 9639 3875; http://appointment.counselcc.net.au.

Photo: nuchylee, freedigitalimages.net

What is Counselling?

Well some may think that counselling is about going to visit a wise person, who after asking some apt questions, provides wisdom to the areas of our life that needs it. Some think it is a waste of time, some think it should be free!!

One way to describe counselling is like this: it is a journey from the pain in ones life, a journey to understand the how, when where and why of the issues. In identifying the source of the problem, then formulating strategies to overcome the issues, a struggling soul can be empowered. After all, if you are not AWARE of what the issue is, where it comes from, or why it exists, then you are not likely to ACKNOWLEDGE the problem or own it as yours (ACCEPTANCE). Once a person accepts the responsibility for dealing with the issue, momentum can begin by being either ASSERTIVE over the negative behaviours or negative impact of the issue, or one can AFFIRM themselves as not being all bad, there are some very good parts that have enabled you to get somewhere in life.

Most importantly, when the strategies have been established and implemented, the last step is to APPRECIATE the change, no matter how little it may seem. Most important is the willingness to sit with a stranger and to slowly open up, become vulnerable despite all the insecurities and fears. Remember this, if you are not sure who to seek out as a counsellor you can seek out where others may have been; ask your Pastor or minister for advice; or contact the following websites and see who may be registered and practising in your area.

APC - Association of Personal Counsellors Inc., - www.apc.asn.au
CCAA - Christian Counsellors Association Australia - www.ccaa.net.au
PACFA – Psychotherapy And Counselling Federation of Australia - www.pacfa.org.au

Counsel@CrossCulture is open to everyone.

Article by Mike Skewes, Clinical Counsellor

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Now with six General Counsellors on our team, no referral
necessary and cost between $10 - $70 depending on your
employment situation.  There’s no better time to take ACTION toward a better you!

T. 9639 3875; http://appointment.counselcc.net.au.

Photos:  freedigitalimages.net