Counselling with Robbie

  • My Outlook
  • What Can I Expect
  • The Process With Robbie
Everyone has a right to a basic sense of contentment and belonging in his or her life. This includes a feeling of worth and an ability to act in integrity with one’s best dreams and values.

I hold a firm belief that underlying the possible chaos of a person’s unease resides a foundation of self that is resilient and peaceful. I also believe that there is an accessible pathway back to your essential self—even if the path has been hidden for decades.

My confidence is supported by experience working with so many people who have overcome both ‘normal life’ stress and unimaginable suffering. I have had the privilege of helping and witnessing clients begin to thrive in the present, craft a future of their choosing, and escape the grip of an oppressive past or a difficult present.

There are many reasons why we may not have access to our innate core of wellbeing: sometimes distressing present circumstances, relational stress, loss, or difficult life transitions block the way. The pressure of social norms can also slyly push us into a corner that does not suit our present identity. And sometimes a rough past robbed us of the key to the gate of our best self, so much so we may be convinced it does not exist, or that we are not worthy of it.

When contending with such pressures, our natural resources to cope can become overwhelmed. Stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and other problems can find fertile ground in which to grow. For concerns like these, research has shown that counselling does indeed work.

Counselling is an investment of your time and resources; I take seriously your desire to get the results you want out of the process. That in mind, you should expect to see a palpable difference in your life, depending on what is of concern to you, such as:

• Improved relationships
• Clearer, more positive thinking patterns
• An increasingly balanced emotional and nervous system
• Replacement of destructive behaviours with constructive ones
• Better sleep
• Greater happiness and ease
• Improved concentration
• Better ability to make executive decisions
• More curiosity and interest in yourself and others
• Renewed interest in and hope for your future

I view counselling as a collaborative activity. This includes spending some time helping me to understand the history and nature of the problem and how it is affecting your life. We can then develop a plan together about how to go about addressing the concerns that are most important to you. My overall concern is to be of service in helping you get the support you need. Further, the entire process of counselling is completely confidential.

I integrate a blend of approaches in sessions, including traditional, client-centred talk counselling as well as EMDR and other Mindfulness based approaches. My practice is organized around a central ethical praxis which includes attention to social justice issues. I work with people of all gender/sexual orientations, and aspire to create an inclusive environment for people of all cultural/racial backgrounds and identities.
Most of my clients enjoy and benefit from body-mind therapy (sensorimotor psychotherapy). I always check with people whether the approach I am using seems like a good fit for them, and adjust to suit.

Body Mind Therapy is especially helpful when:

• The problem is chronic (long lasting, such as problematic, patterned responses of behaviour, thoughts, beliefs, and/or emotions)
• The suffering is acute enough that emotional overwhelm is present (sometimes experienced as anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares)
• There is a history of trauma (childhood or otherwise), or developmental injuries

How Long Will It Take?

Many people have found that engaging in just a few sessions of therapeutic conversations that are intentionally non-judgmental, supportive, and free of agenda from my side, are sufficient to help spark the change they hope for. Even when longer-term therapy is the right option, benefit from the process nonetheless should begin early on.

How Can I Get the Most Out of Counselling?

This article is a clear and useful read for people considering  counselling.