Deeper insight in to my services

This month's article will explore in more depth the values by which I work, my approach to practice, and some specialities. I imbue my therapy with a number of qualities based on what I have observed to be lacking or ineffective in much mainstream mental health practice, as well as what experience has taught me.

Adaptability and thoroughness: I draw on a range of psychological schools of thought. This is essential; we have invented the psychological theories that inform therapy as these are necessary to explain how the mind works, but theorising on how the mind works can not dictate its nature. Not all theories plausibly explain all problems and offer appropriate solutions for all clients. Trying to force each client's problems to be explained by a preferred theory can mislead them and make therapy inaccessible.

My approach to dialogue with clients starts with facilitating acceptance, compassion, and empowerment to explore their own reasons for change and solutions to problems without me coercing them. Given that different problems may have different explanations, we examine the client's situation and a number of possible causes to understand what to address and how. I initially give equal attention to both the client's present and past, but create the focus based on what we learn is most important.

Education: From our exploration, I conduct education with my clients on the explanations of their psychological experiences. Being able to explain a problem is imperative when we need to solve it. For example, if a client has experienced trauma, we may use schema theory to explain how the traumatic events led to the development of beliefs (called "schemas") about the world that affect their current state; therapy could involve addressing those beliefs. If a client is grieving but it is not significantly preventing them from conducting their normal activity and there is no history of trauma, then that approach may be inappropriate. Rather, we may use an existential approach to explain how the loss may have precipitated fear or anxiety about aspects of their life; therapy could involve establishing what values and philosophy they associate with the situation and how they can reconcile with them.

Action-orientation: The passive therapist "smiling and nodding" while not giving real guidance exists, and this is not quality practice. I help each client define what they would like to achieve and develop actions to contribute to those goals. I do not rush them beyond their capacity, but try to use every appointment as an opportunity to help them learn a new idea. This may be insight in to their functioning, therapeutic exercises, or ideally the adoption of new habits. My ultimate goal is to not only help clients solve a presenting problem, but also learn problem-solving techniques so that they can approach life more independently.

Relatability: I am unashamedly candid that I have suffered mental illness and have been subjected to ineffective and even harmful therapy — not with clients, of course, but in media. Most of the philosophies which I teach are ones which I have utilised myself. While I believe in professionalism, I maintain this alongside relatability. My lived experience informs my approach because the subjectivity of problems is not relayed well by the academia assumed to be the basis of therapeutic practice; part of the effectiveness of therapy is the proper communication of these nuances, which is difficult to learn without direct experience. Clients need honesty, compassion, and willingness to explore the depth of their experience regardless of how complex, unpleasant, or bizarre it may be. They do not need forced empathy, patronisation, "quick solutions", or that conclusion that "there is nothing wrong with them" because their problems are not illnesses or seem insignificant.

Honesty: When we unknowingly live in ways that worsen our problems or harm others, care means being told what we need to hear even if it is not comfortable. The problem is that this justification is often used by abusers, sensationalists, and other bullies to stigmatise and weaken their victims — there are likely countless stories of people who were abused by their parents or partners and told that it was "for their own good, to toughen them". From both professional and personal experience, I understand this delicate balance. I would be stealing from my clients if I was simply telling them what they wanted to hear for the sake of being pleasant. My job is to help them be the best that they can be, and I deliver this without sacrificing compassion.

Affordability: I keep my pricing affordable. This includes offering discounts to holders of concession cards and student cards. For reference, my prices start at $149 for a 60-minute remote appointment at the standard rate, and $89 for the same appointment at the concession rate; this discounted price is as little as the gap fee charged by many therapists who can claim rebates from Medicare. I also apply the discounted pricing to clients who are eligible to pay for my services via their National Disability Insurance Scheme plans.

Business ethics: People are rightly exasperated about working with businesses which can not seem to answer their enquiries consistently or treat client relations like menial tasks on a production line. From my earliest days in the workforce, I honoured the importance of the client, and that ethos will never leave me. I do not make promises I can not keep, and treat the client, their time, their money, and their needs with the respect they deserve.

My areas of interest

I do not have preferences for certain types of clients, and accept them when their needs are within my capacity. As such, my clients vary greatly in demographics. However, I have experience with particular issues which clients have found allows me to provide particularly useful insights in to them. Furthermore, certain types of clients have particularly appreciated that my approach accommodates them.

Trauma: To optimise our growth, it is essential that we learn about how we function and why. I well understand the range of impacts which our past experiences have on our present life. I help clients to understand their trauma in a safe manner and develop practical skills to manage its effects. The relevant skills are also greatly adaptable to managing other problems.

Relationship matters: I have an intricate understanding of the ways in which we affect each other via our interactions, communication, gestures, and subtleties — much of which happens unconsciously. I am passionate about helping clients to understand their motives and needs in relational contexts, and educating them in effective communication and conflict-resolution skills.

Habits: Constructive habits are an important basis for a healthy life — and we may be startled by the effects that seemingly insignificant actions which we perform every day may have on how we think, feel, and live. In a range of contexts, I educate my clients about how their thinking and behavioural habits impact their life, and how they can choose and practise the habits more aligned with their goals.

Men's and seniors' mental health: In years past, mental health was less commonly addressed and often deliberately ignored, and men especially were expected to be infallible. While all people's mental health is equally important, men and seniors are often forgotten in the campaign. A key concern is that we may be taught that any typically masculine or traditional value is inherently toxic and clients should "modernise" to be mentally healthy. This is a harmful ethos as there are a range of values which can integrate in to a healthy lifestyle when practised well, distinct from those which are inherently toxic. Men and seniors are of no exception — they deserve compassion, not being judged as "old-fashioned", "weak", or "too much trouble". I work from a nuanced, critically-thinking perspective in discerning these values, helping each client to use them in the change process. Notably, I have regularly helped clients integrate their religions in to the change process despite not being religious myself. I apply this critical thinking to my work with all clients.

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Thought of the month

Inflexible thinking involves the assumption that our thoughts are correct and everyone else's are not. Practising it poses a serious risk that we will never be satisfied in life because we will constantly be finding unforgivable flaws in the world and concluding that they are always the fault of others.