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Counsellors

Counselling is a safe environment where you can deal with many issues. Most people don’t know what it is that triggers the emotional roller coaster they go on. However, through talking through your problems with a professional whose trained to hear the inconsistencies of your life script, often irrational beliefs and fears are identified. As human beings we all want to be loved, accepted and belong. If these needs are not being met, we put on protective behaviours and coping mechanisms to prevent us from feeling the hurt and the isolation of those core issues. Counsellors are trained to journey through these issues with the client, assisting them in making changes to their lives in areas such as relationships, fears and family issues.

Psychologists

Psychologists study the way people feel, think, act and interact. Through a range of strategies and therapies they aim to reduce distress and to enhance and promote emotional wellbeing. Psychologists are experts in human behaviour, and have studied the brain, memory, learning and human development. Psychologists can assist people who are having difficulty controlling their emotions, thinking and behaviour including those with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, serious and enduring mental illness, addictive behaviours and childhood behaviour disorders. Some Psychologists bulk bill clients who are referred under a health care plan from their doctor.(info from http://www.psychology.org.au)

MEDICARE: Clients obtaining a mental health care plan treatment must have an assessed mental disorder that is being managed by a GP. Difficulties such as parenting issues, marital conflict or performance related difficulties fall outside the Medicare framework. Life Bridge offers excellent counselling services for these issues.

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 “If I go to marriage counselling, whose side is the counsellor on?”

Neither. The marriage is the client, not the individuals. “As long as you leave equally unhappy, then counselling has been successful” because each of you will play into the dynamics of the conflict. The counsellor will point out the road blocks you’ve used by each to prevent deep and meaningful communication and conflict resolution.

“My friends tell me I should speak to a counsellor but it just seems that it will bring up the pain all over again”

Sometimes the only way forward is through the pain, however not all therapies include dealing with the past but look at what is happening now. The counsellor will be very aware to address the issues at the right time. You as the client are in charge of the session and you may choose to address other issues

instead.

“I want to talk to someone but I don’t want anyone else to know that I’m going to a counsellor. How do I know that my privacy will be respected?”

We’re all professionals and abide by a code of conduct. If your counsellor sees you in any other setting other than as a counsellor she/he will not behave or speak in a way that informs others of your relationship. All information you give Life Bridge is dealt with confidentially and all paperwork is kept in locked files.