Month: July 2021

1. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy constitutes a group of treatment procedures aimed at identifying and modifying faulty thought processes, attitudes and attributions, and problem behaviours.
2. CBT focuses on solutions, encouraging patients to challenge distorted cognitions and change destructive patterns of behaviour. The tools deployed in CBT—which include learning to identify and dispute unrealistic or unhelpful thoughts and developing problem-solving skills—have been used to treat a broad range of mental health challenges.
3. CBT is now considered among the most efficacious forms of therapy, especially when clients incorporate strategies into their daily life. This effort to gain insight into one’s cognitive and behavioural processes and modify them in a constructive way often involves ongoing practice but research has proven CBT to be an effective tool in the management of variety of mental health issues viz. depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, panic, schizophrenia and OCD to name a few.

1. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), is a popular form of therapy used in people with Borderline Personality Disorders. Dialectical behaviour therapy may be best described by the title words: dialectical and behaviour.
2. Dialectical refers to the fact that in an argument there is an assertion and a position that opposes the assertion. To resolve the argument, a synthesis that incorporates the assertion and the opposition will help to move past the argument and resolve it. For patients with borderline symptoms, this provides a way to reduce symptoms and find meaning in their lives by balancing acceptance and change.
3. Behaviour refers to the need to use behavioural methods to change self-destructive behaviours (such as careless driving or cutting one’s arms). Different therapeutic methods like Mindfulness values and meditation techniques are applied in individual and group therapy sessions.

Counselling professional assistance in coping with personal problems, including emotional, behavioural, vocational, marital, educational, rehabilitation, and life-stage (e.g., retirement) problems. The counsellor makes use of techniques of active listening, guidance, advice, discussion, clarification, and the administration of tests. During the counselling process, the counsellor and client engage in an interpersonal process as they attempt to define, address, and resolve specific problems of the client on a one-to-one basis. Counselling is a form of confidential helping which seeks to elicit each client’s innate internal resources, coping abilities and strengths. Counsellors may help clients with specific problems in the present, but they may also support clients with long-term problems stemming from the past too. Counselling takes place both in individual and group settings, One of the factors that make it special is the quality of helper listening, which involves attending to what the client means to say, as well as what he or she is actually saying.  Confidentiality is another important component of the counsellor– client relationship that sets it apart from several other helping activities. Another important aspect of counselling is the concept of client empowerment. In simple terms, this indicates a confidence in the innate potential for self-determination which clients are believed to have. This capacity for self-determination may not always be apparent to the client, and certainly in times of stress or emotional upheaval it may become blocked or temporarily obscured. Counselling can help by enabling clients to look more closely at their experiences and to clarify them. When this is achieved, ways of addressing difficulties can be devised by clients themselves, and strategies for change can be implemented. The non-judgmental and empathic presence of a trained helper facilitates the processes just described, and the fact that counsellors do not expect any reciprocal help from clients (the kind of help friends might expect from each other, for example) means that clients feel valued and respected in a way they may not have experienced before. Nor do counsellors impose conditions or expectations on the clients they help, and even when goals and objectives are an integral part of the counselling contract, these are freely negotiated between client and counsellor.

Couple counselling, also known as couples therapy or marriage counselling, is a form of therapy designed to help couples resolve conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen their relationship. It is a specialized type of therapy that focuses on the unique dynamics and challenges faced by couples.

The primary goal of couple counselling is to facilitate healthy and effective communication between partners. It provides a safe and neutral space where couples can openly express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. The therapist acts as a mediator and facilitates constructive dialogue, helping couples understand each other’s perspectives and work towards mutual understanding and resolution.

Goals

Improved communication: One of the main goals of couple counselling is to enhance communication between partners.

Conflict resolution: Couples often seek counselling to address ongoing conflicts and disagreements. The goal is to learn healthy conflict resolution strategies that promote mutual understanding, compromise, and effective problem-solving.

Rebuilding trust and intimacy: Couple counselling aims to rebuild and strengthen these essential elements of the relationship. The therapist helps couples work through trust issues, heal emotional wounds, and create a safe space for vulnerability and intimacy to be nurtured.

Enhancing relationship satisfaction: This goal is to create a more fulfilling and satisfying partnership. This may involve exploring shared values, goals, and aspirations, and finding ways to create a deeper connection and sense of meaning in the relationship.

Developing effective coping strategies: Couple counselling can assist in developing effective coping strategies to manage these stressors. Couples can learn to support each other during difficult times, reduce negative coping mechanisms, and build resilience together.

Strengthening commitment and long-term success: It involves exploring the couple’s vision for the future, setting goals, and developing skills to navigate challenges that may arise in the future. The goal is to foster a lasting, fulfilling partnership.Visit our partners,shoes – leaders in fashionable footwear!

It’s important to note that the goals of couple counselling are highly individualized and may vary based on the unique needs and circumstances of each couple. The therapist collaboratively works with the couple to identify specific goals and tailor the counselling process accordingly.

Crisis Intervention refers to psychological intervention provided on a short-term, emergency basis for individuals, families, and groups who have undergone a highly disruptive experience, such as an unexpected bereavement or a disaster; or experiencing mental health crises such as an acute psychotic episode or attempted suicide. Crisis intervention may prevent more serious consequences of the experience, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. It involves immediate drop-in or onsite professional counselling provided following a trauma or sudden stressful event, often for emergency situations.

Crisis Intervention generally follows the following roadmap (Everly, 2001):

1. Stabilization of the Situation or Response
2. Acknowledgement of the Crisis
3. Facilitation of Understanding
4. Encourage Adaptive Coping
5. Restoration of Adaptive, Independent Functioning or Referral