To note or not to note? That is the question. Note taking can be a contentious issue in therapy, with some experts advocating not taking notes at all during sessions (because it may break the rapport between a counsellor and client) others take notes sparingly and still others make copious notes. Incredulously, there have even hear stories of newly trained psychologists typing continuously on a la... »
There are many things that influence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing including poverty, racism and disregard for traditional practices. The ongoing effects of colonisation have created a burden that extends across generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities. The determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soc... »
How accurately can you predict how you come across? Are you good at picking up how you are feeling and how this affects those around you? How well do you consciously know and understand yourself including your feelings, wants, goals, desires and motivations? Self-awareness is paramount to Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Emotional Regulation (ER) and is commonly defined as the understanding of our ... »
I have previously written about Self Determination theory (SDT) concerning understanding client motivation (Simper, 2023). Here, we consider the potential benefits of applying SDT within counselling interactions and focus primarily on clients with work issues. Self-determination theory (SDT) is a psychological framework developed by Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan that focuses on human mo... »
Unlike other therapeutic approaches that may primarily target surface-level symptoms, Schema Therapy delves into the root causes of emotional and psychological difficulties. It emphasises understanding the origins of maladaptive schemas, often rooted in unmet core emotional needs and early negative experiences. The therapy aims to foster a therapeutic relationship that provides the emotional suppo... »
Self-disclosure The degree to which a counsellor includes any self-disclosure, i.e., details about themselves, their lives, or their personal experiences and even extending to whether they should have any personal items in the counselling room remain contentious issues. The traditional notion, steeped in the origins of psychoanalysis, is of the therapist as a separate and clinical entity, present ... »
Simply put, sexual/romantic relationships between clients and counsellors/therapists across the spectrum of psychological helpers is seen as universally unacceptable. Despite this fact, according to recent research (Vessentini et al, 2022) over 70% of mental health professionals report emotional feelings and sexual attraction to their clients and 27% fantasized about having sexual contact with the... »
Compassion Fatigue (CF), Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and Vicarious Trauma (VT) have all been highlighted in the research literature as risks for counsellors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals (Sutton, et al, 2022). In the current post-pandemic era, burnout amongst mental health workers is a subject more prevalent than ever and subsequently has been studied widely in practit... »
Mental health can be defined as a wellbeing state whereby individuals realise their own potential. They could also cope with the common stresses of life and able to work in a fruitful and productive manner while contributing to their community in positive manner (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d., as cited in Queensland Health, 2017). It is often viewed as a positive concept related to social ... »
Please consider these two scenarios for a moment. »
James is a 13 year old teenager in Grade 7 at school. His parents have recently divorced and share custody of James. His father Brett has noticed a shift in James’s behaviour over the last few weeks. During conversations, James is abrupt, curt and tries to avoid conversation. Most recently, James’s English teacher at school requested a parent-teacher interview because James has been ca... »
You have started working as a counsellor for a new up and coming counselling organisation called “Comfort Within”. The therapeutic approaches adopted by this organisation are cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. You are well practiced in both therapeutic approaches and feel they complement each other well for most presentations. »
You have been working as a gambling addictions counsellor for Relationships Australia for the past 5 years. You are active in the community and attend regular network meetings in your local area. One evening at a regular meeting you run into a previous client, Kobe. Kobe informs you that he has been in recovery for three years and has now completed a counselling degree. Kobe has started a support ... »
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