As a counsellor, you will likely encounter clients who are anxious about career-related concerns. They may be kids, teenagers, or adults, and may come from any number of social or economic strata; vocational pressure effects people of all demographics, and there is a robust literature that suggests strategies that counsellors can use to attend to […]
Relationships
Understanding Mental Health
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 […]
- October 13, 2022
- 0
- 4457
- Clinical Mental Health, Counselling Dilemmas, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health, Uncategorized
- Read More
What is Domestic and Family Violence?
Domestic and family violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour that involves one person seeking to control and dominate another person. It is not the same as conflict. In this article, we explore some definitions, common terms and statistics around this topic.
- April 1, 2022
- 0
- 4578
- Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
- Read More
Rebuilding Romantic Intimacy
If you are in a long-term relationship, you may find yourself reminiscing about the past and asking yourself: what happened to the joy we used to feel in the honeymoon period? In this article, we focus on this question, and numerous strategies to help rebuild your romantic intimacy.
- February 16, 2022
- 0
- 4704
- Relationship & Families
- Read More
Anger Management: De-escalating Anger
Would you know what to say or do in order to de-escalate from a client – or anyone – threatening to harm you if they don’t get what they want? Would you know – if all else fails – how to keep yourself safe in a violent situation? In this article, we share with you a set of responses for dealing with an angry person – safely – at each of seven levels of anger.
- July 22, 2021
- 0
- 7992
- Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
- Read More
Busting Common Myths About Anger
Because it is so multi-faceted, misperceptions about anger abound, and the question arises: how shall we regard anger? How do we advise the client to think about it? Folk wisdom often would say that the best thing to do is just let it all out, but is it? Clients complain that they cannot control it, that the tendency to be easily angered is inherited, but again, is there evidence for that? This article expores common myths people tend to hold about anger, and factual statements following them that you can use to clarify for the client why learning to deal with problem anger is time well spent.
- June 7, 2021
- 0
- 8098
- Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families, Wellness
- Read More
Infidelity: Helping the Betrayed Partner
He sits down and looks at you dolefully, his big eyes full of hurt and desperation. “I don’t know why she cheated on me,” he whispers hoarsely, “but this is the worst hurt I have ever felt. I don’t know how I will cope, or what it means for our kids. I guess my marriage […]
- December 17, 2019
- 0
- 14461
- Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families
- Read More
Detecting the Deception
Counsellor to client mandated to come to counselling after an alleged domestic violence incident: “So, did you hit your wife?” Client: (Squirming in chair). “I love my wife. Do you think I would give a black eye to the woman I love? What happened was that there was this jar of honey that couldn’t be […]
- October 21, 2019
- 0
- 4080
- Addictions, Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
- Read More
Dealing with Deception in Counselling
“You should always believe your clients,” said the counselling-training professor to the trainees, “and you should always disbelieve them” It’s possible that that advice — confusing and impossible as it seems to be — is useful not only for therapists listening to clients, but to any of us listening to a fellow human being. Even […]
- October 10, 2019
- 2
- 16297
- Addictions, Relationship & Families, Wellness
- Read More
Manipulation: Recognising and Responding to It
You know the feeling. The person seems to be making a reasonable request, or advising you to do something “for your own good”, but inside your guts are completely churned up! What’s going on? The chances are that you are experiencing an attempt to manipulate you. Sadly, manipulation is rife in the real world and […]
- June 28, 2019
- 0
- 42896
- Relationship & Families, Stress Management, Wellness
- Read More
Intimacy, Spirituality and Counselling
INTIMACY! Ok, now that we have your attention . . . let’s try another cue: SPIRITUALITY! And now, we’d like to know: what was the difference in your reaction to the two words? For many, intimacy conjures up juicy images of sexual trysts with the mythically perfect lover: one who attends to our every need […]
- February 26, 2019
- 1
- 7729
- Relationship & Families, Spirituality & Religion, Wellness
- Read More
Working with Angst in Counselling
What do you say to a client whose presenting issue is deep angst over the question of relationship? Whether the person is in a primary relationship and deeply unhappy, questioning whether to stay or to go, or the person longs for that primary relationship in order to feel happy and fulfilled, the issue is a […]
- January 29, 2019
- 0
- 5782
- Counselling Therapies, Relationship & Families
- Read More
Right-relating – with a Diploma to Back You Up
Have you ever sat in session with a client pouring out their tale of woe about a certain relationship they’re in which is causing them untold amounts of stress and grief? Of course, you undoubtedly took it all in with supreme respectfulness, being able to see how the complained-about person’s behaviour was out-of-line, if not […]
- March 3, 2018
- 0
- 4186
- Career Development, Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
- Read More
The Social Value of Being an Active Listener
Every year my siblings look forward to the visit my husband and I make to my country of origin. They are very glad to see me, but they can’t wait to see him. Why? When he is with each one, it is as if that person is the only human being on the planet. My […]
- December 15, 2015
- 0
- 5677
- Personal Effectiveness, Relationship & Families
- Read More
Getting Smart with Giving Feedback
“Your meals are disgusting!” she shouted. A look of deep hurt flashed across his face before anger kicked in. “You don’t need to be cooked for anyway,” he retorted. “Your bottom’s gone way beyond cute!” Does anything familiar echo here? What about in the following exchange? “Darling,” he said, repeating his familiar compliment, “You’re beautiful.” […]
- October 12, 2015
- 1
- 12674
- Counselling Theory & Process, Personal Effectiveness, Relationship & Families, Workplace Issues
- Read More