The dawn of a new kind of approach to counselling & therapy

Something that has been bothering me for a long time about the Counselling and psychology approach- with their 50min appointment model- is that it has been influenced by the “ medical model” system of healthcare.

The Problem with this model is that it’s in a practitioner’s best interest to keep the Client ‘not quite well’. Because if they become well they are no longer client/patient any more.

Cynical – I know.

It’s why we see doctors in the medical system in general, not teaching ‘food as medicine’ as a very first line of treatment.

It’s why we have individual specialties rather than holistic approaches in the medical system.

And it is why we have doctors that treat ‘the head’ rather than ‘the whole’ in psychiatry.

I do know that there are plenty of incredible doctors who are holistic in approach and who advocate food as medicine and movement as medicine and meditation as medicine and yoga as medicine and rest as medicine and herbs as medicine. I could go on and on with many ways that the things around us can become medicine rather than actual pharma.

However this is the exception to the rule.

So this brings me back to my issue with treating people in the counselling/psych space from a two dimensional approach based upon an outdated model from Freud (who was a medical doctor, graduated in 1881. Was not allowed to train as a psychiatrist as he was a Jew and this wasn’t permitted in Austria at the time).

The god father of modern psychology never completed a psychology degree and yet his influence lives on in our modern clinic couches.

Have you ever been in a psych/counseling appt and sure enough 49mins into your session your therapist’s eyes are darting to their clock, cleverly placed in their line of sight…?

50mins- ‘right so let’s summarise where we are at today’

55mins- ‘how are you paying?’

58mins- ‘’same time next week?”

60mins -out the door.

Rinse. Repeat. 8 patients per day.

5 days per week.

It just doesn’t feel right to me.

If you’ve ever had a session with me it’s likely we ran ‘over’ time.

But we didn’t really.

We took all the time that was required.

It’s because right on 49mins you let your guard down. You mentioned something significant. Or difficult. Or something you’ve never told anyone before.

You got the words out.

You let the tears fall.

You sat with the pain .

You allowed the feelings to rise.

There’s no way I’m going to hurry you up and tell you ‘hold that thought- let’s bring it up again next week and go thru it all again. Meanwhile how about you push it all back down, and mask your feelings for another week. Time’s up!”

That’s my issue with the medical model approach to therapy.

It doesn’t fit with our nervous system. Or our internal dialogue. Or our internal feelings of safety. This can’t be set to a time limit.

As an energy healer as well as a counsellor and coach I spend time with each client working gently thru a mass of energy and emotions and beliefs. I never know exactly when breakthrough will happen. But I have an inkling about it ????

That’s why I’ve changed how I work with my clients.

For years now I’ve preferred working with you in a ‘package’ arrangement.

You buy 3,6,10 sessions upfront.

Because this shows a commitment to healing.

(It can get very draining doing ‘one off’ sessions all the time. We are stuck with only dealing with the crisis- never going deeper to release what causes you to get into crisis over and over.)

But now Ive changed the game again!

I’m now only working with clients on a monthly commitment approach.

You. And. Me. One month.

Let’s do this. Total focus.

Unlimited sessions. Yes. That’s right.

No time limit.

No session limit.

You need a daily message? You got it.

You need weekly sessions? Ok lock it in.

You need homework? I’m here for it.

You need accountability? Alrighty then.

Why am I doing coaching like this now?

Because it gets results faster than any other approach I’ve been taught or experienced myself!

Twenty years in private practice. I’ve learned what gets the best results- consistently showing up and having someone in your corner while you navigate new steps and make aligned changes.

It takes dedication and commitment and patience and trust to heal.

That’s why I’m changing how we do treatments and applying an holistic approach- mind body soul. And we need time for that. Not a time limit.

Are you wanting real long lasting change for your life?

Let’s talk.

Belle

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