+ Why consult a psychologist?

There are a variety of reasons people can feel the need to consult a psychologist. From anxiety, pain to suffering, these feelings can cause intense stress and a psychologist can help explore the causes. At Energising Goals our goal is to give our clients the professional support to help them regain their ability to enjoy life again and to go on with their life projects with renewed energy.

+ How does psychological consultation actually work?

The therapeutic alliance is the most effective tool of any therapeutic relationship. That means that both, therapist and client are authentic, sincere and feel that they can fully trust each other. In this positive and respectful atmosphere, the patient feels safe to explore his issues and be open about his intimate thoughts and feelings, which are necessary for his psychologist to understand him.

+ Why might I need to come more than once?

We wish people could come in for one session and be ‘cured’ but that is unrealistic. Sometimes problems take years to develop, and as such they can take time to resolve. Counselling requires exploration of the issues at hand, and the time it takes depends on the nature of the problems or concerns. Once we know what the real underlying issues are, we can work with you to help you bring about change.

+ Why can’t I just talk to a friend?

After talking about the things that are bothering us, we can often feel better – for a while. However, talking rarely results in a fundamental change, and as such the same problems are likely to occur again and again unless we actively find the root cause and change it. A good analogy of this is that we all know how to exercise, but we do it so much better with a personal trainer.

+ What does a Psychologist/Counsellor do?

A counsellor/psychologist is trained to listen and guide you through a process to help you resolve your issues and problems. We create a safe environment that helps you explore your problems and issues without judgement. Always remember, this is your life and your responsibility to change it – counsellors/psychologists cannot do this work for you. Your counsellor/psychologist can provide you with tools to help you change your life, but if you aren’t actively using these tools, you won’t get very far and begin to get frustrated with the therapy process. In addition a psychologist can diagnose mental illness and conduct clinical assessments, most insurance companies will reimburse psychological fees.

+ What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Counsellor?

These terms can often overlap, however it is useful to know the difference between these modalities. The main differences often appear in the training. Psychologist training tends to be longer, and usually trained to deal with a variety of issues ranging from Schizophrenia through to Clinical depression. Counsellors on the other hand tend to deal more (but not exclusively) with life’s issues, such as relationships, stress and other everyday problems. Both are a way of interaction – between a Counsellor or Psychologist on one side and the client(s) on the other side, with the goal to cause changes in feeling and behaviour of the client.

+ What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

The main difference is the perspective:

A psychiatrist is a physician, trained to look for symptoms and mental illnesses. He aims to make a diagnostic and label your mental state. In addition to psychotherapy, he may prescribe medications.

A psychologist is learned in human development and functioning in all their aspects (behaviour, thinking, emotion), so he can assess the weaknesses as well as the strengths of a client seeking his help. He is also trained in psychotherapeutic skills and methods to help his client explore his ways and change them when they are source of suffering. A psychologist can also use labels as a commodity of communication, however he aims not to make a diagnostic but to understand your way of functioning. Both can be “doctors”, medical doctor for a psychiatrist (M.D.), philosophical doctor for a Psychologist (Ph.D.)

+ Why am I given homework?

We give clients homework depending on the situation. Homework can increase the effectiveness of your sessions, can solidify information given in session, and can speed up the counselling process. Always make sure that if homework is given, you understand what is required, and write it down if you tend to forget. Please remember we give homework for a reason! If it is any consolation, we do homework for you too. We write case notes in order for us to understand what is happening, and it gives us a chance to reflect on the session and identify any areas that need addressing that may not have been so obvious during the session We also plan for your next session, so we can try and help you as much as we can.

+ How do I get the most out of therapy?

Put in the time; turn up on time and keep regular appointments – make it a priority. Do your homework when asked; this will speed up your progress Journal during the week; this is a good way of logging any thoughts or feelings or questions Remember change requires work – it can be hard and painful at times, but the rewards are great. Be open and honest in session– remember, your lies won’t impress, and your truths won’t disappoint. If you are feeling challenged by the work or the process is bringing up uncomfortable feelings, tell us! Be patient and gentle with yourself. Growth takes time, effort, and practice.

+ I’m worried that I’ll be judged for my thoughts, actions…

The counsellors practice is based on a person-centred approach and is grounded in non-judgement and the recognition that life is not “black and white”. It is understood that each individual has their own perspective born out of a lifetime of experience. You will be made to feel comfortable in expressing whatever thoughts and feelings are present for you.

+ Are the sessions confidential?

What passes between the counsellor and client remains completely confidential. Your written permission is required to convey personal information to a third party. Your psychologist can’t even acknowledge your therapeutic relationship without your consent.

However there are a small number of areas where law demands that confidentiality be broken; such as if you threaten to harm yourself or another person then the psychologist is ethically bound to contact the appropriate authorities; but these are very few and will be explained in the first session.

+ Do I need to be unwell to seek counselling?

One of the great myths around counselling is that a person needs to be deeply unwell in order to seek it out. In the same way that one might see a personal trainer, attend a yoga class or undertake a meditation course in order to develop or maintain our physical health, so counselling and psychotherapy can be thought of as practices that help us to keep ourselves mentally and emotionally fit and healthy. Some people who come to counselling are deeply troubled, while other might simply be curious.

+ Do I need to make an appointment or can I just turn up?

We work by appointment only. Since all our Psychologists, and Counsellors work different clinical hours and would usually already have other appointments scheduled, we need you to make an appointment to ensure that your therapist is available. We regret we will not be able to serve you if you do not have a pre-booked appointment.