Counselling

  
What is Counselling?

"Counselling is a developmental process, in which one individual (the counsellor) provides to another individual or group (the client), guidance and encouragement, challenge and inspiration, in creatively managing and resolving practical, personal and relationship issues, in acieving goals, and in self-realisation" (definition by Counselling Association of SA).

Unlike psychologists or psychiatrists, counsellors do not conduct psychological or intellectual testing, nor do they prescribe medication. The focus of counselling often includes personal crisis or loss, relationship breakdown and enhancement, problem-solving, and communication skill-building.

Counselling may involve individual, couple, family or group therapy.

An Integrative Approach

People that attend counselling are all different. They have unique needs, commmunication styles, and preferred ways of learning. For this reason, Monika is committed to tailoring her approach to suit each client.

A range of approaches may be used across sessions, including:

• Person-centred
• Narrative
• Solution focused
• Cognitive and Behavioural
• Psychosynthesis
• Developmentally focused
• Educational
• Couple/Family therapy

Ultimately, clients lead the counselling process. It is important that they feel empowered to explore their own issues of concern and determine their own goals in counselling.

Length of Counselling Sessions

To enable an adequate exploration of clients' issues, counselling sessions are usually an hour long. Longer session times may be available upon request (at an additional cost). Please inform the receptionist when booking if you require more time.

About Monika Schofield

Monika Schofield is a qualified counsellor, with experience in individual, couple, family and group therapy. Her counselling interests and experience include issues such as:

• Relationships
• Interpersonal Violence
• Depression/Anxiety
• Personal Crisis
• Grief and Loss
• Self Development

Monika also has extensive policy, research and project experience across the South Australian Government. This has included working in the areas of Gender (with a focus on both women's and men's issues), Domestic Violence, Mental Health Promotion, Suicide Prevention, and Population Health.