Counselling

Counselling is listed among the 'talking therapies' as providing an opportunity to investigate whatever is currently most difficult or troubling. In an atmosphere of personal attention, respect and empathy, there is room to explore all aspects of the situation, to seek meaning or purpose, to set goals and select solutions/adaptations that allow for positive development.

Particular issues such as: crisis, identity, relationship/family difficulties, grief, loss, excessive stress or tension, burnout, depression, sexual/emotional/psychological difficulties or trauma, ongoing dissatisfaction, anxiety or doubt, can be amongst the reasons for seeking counselling.

Duration of counselling can be determined by the situation and is decided by mutual agreement.

Brief counselling or coaching can be useful to motivated clients with a specific problem, who want to work hard and make the necessary changes. This can take 3-5 consecutive sessions (Exploration, Options, Actionplan), to be extended or repeated if necessary.

Open-ended counselling may be more beneficial in case of long-standing or complex difficulties; duration is then not set in advance but continues by mutual agreement, with periodic evaluation. However, even then the client may decide to focus on just one area to achieve beneficial results faster.

The person-centred and experiential therapist does not aim to give advice, but rather to help clients examine their own experience and clarify thoughts and feelings, with the goal of increased client understanding of the situation, because this may lead to the best personal solutions and to a general increase in health and wellbeing. The person-centred approach derives from a humanistic, holistic view of people and is based on respect, acceptance, honesty and empathy.

The counsellor is able to read and speak several languages, the working language tends to be English or Dutch. The aim is optimal communication.

Duration of therapy is always open for discussion, aiming to have no more sessions than necessary, but ideally enough to provide lasting benefit.