The Therapy Process

We start with getting to know what you want from therapy during your initial free 15-minute consultation and continuing in your first session.

Before the first session we request you complete and return our intake forms. These forms collect information about you, why you are interested in therapy and your health and wellbeing concerns and aspirations. We explain what we provide and ask for your consent to provision of our services. You can access our Privacy Policy in our Terms and Conditions at any time.

In your first session we will discuss the therapy process, consent, timeframes and confidentiality. We will begin to understand your needs and issues in more depth, and get to know you more. We may ask you to complete some questionnaires, answer questions or have a physical assessment (for yoga therapy) to gain clarity about your mental health and health and wellbeing, depending on the focus of therapy.

We welcome your curiosity about your therapy process. We encourage you to ask questions about the process, therapies recommended and used, confidentiality, timeframes and anything else relevant to your therapy experience. You are welcome to ask questions about the process in any session, whether it is your first session or later in therapy.

We work with you to develop goals and agree on therapeutic approaches to meet your needs within an agreed on timeframe.

Psychoeducation is a recommended and essential part of Counselling, Psychotherapy and, increasingly, Yoga Therapy today. This involves sharing research-based information with you that is relevant to your particular concerns. This helps to increase your understanding of your experiences and assist healing.

We use the term healing broadly. Healing refers to an environment and process that places you (the client) at the centre of the client-therapist collaboration that exists to support your health and wellbeing. This support occurs by creating realistic and agreed upon health and wellbeing goals, and then taking action towards these goals. Healing does not intend to (or in fact) refer to cure, complete recovery or elimination of disease, illness, distress or medical conditions.

The aim of healing is to address your health and wellbeing concerns, thereby providing you with some benefit. This benefit is unique to you and your experience. It may include any of these examples … a sense of relief, being witnessed and understood, clarity, a plan to deal with a problem, reduction of discomfort, increased nervous system balance, understanding what an event or relationship means to you. Or it could be something else that has meaning or significance to you.

Your safety and wellbeing are important. We work at your pace. We check-in regularly throughout the therapy process about how you are experiencing therapy. We gain your written and verbal consent to work therapeutically with you at the start and as therapy progresses. We will explicitly ask for your consent before we engage in any therapeutic activity, such as breathwork, movement, sound healing, exploring issues more deeply in talk therapy. You can refuse or withdraw your consent at any time, even after you previously gave consent to try an activity.

We will gain your explicit written consent to use touch during Yoga Therapy or Integrated Therapy (yoga therapy and counselling/psychotherapy blend). Touch is only used to engage in therapy and provide you with a therapeutic benefit. You can refuse or withdraw your consent to touch at any time.

We work with you to progressively develop relevant skills and resources that you can practise in the supportive environment of the therapy session and some to use at home. Home practice supports your progress and, when therapy ends, will help you to maintain your health and wellbeing.

We draw from a range of therapeutic modalities and approaches. We welcome your questions about the approaches we offer.