Huon Counselling
Approaches
Compassion Focused Therapy
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is founded in a range of theories, including evolutionary neuroscience, attachment theory, and Buddhist psychology. There is a growing body of research showing that compassionate thinking has therapeutic benefits. The focus of therapy is on understanding the way our brains have evolved to affect our emotions, and on developing compassion for both ourselves and others. A combination of cognitive behavioural and soothing meditation techniques are used to help reduce self criticism, feelings of shame, and increase feelings of safety and self-worth.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on developing mindfulness techniques to cope with painful thoughts and feelings, and to clarify what is genuinely important and personally meaningful. This knowledge is then used to create goals that are life-enriching. Whereas traditional cognitive behavioural therapies aim to identify and remedy unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour, the principle of acceptance allows us to give enough space to difficult emotions and experiences that we can sit comfortably with them. Commitment to value guided living points us toward living a rich, vital life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the act of being fully aware within the present moment. Mindfulness techniques help to bring us into this state of awareness, by directing our concentration and focus to the physical sensations of our bodies (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste). We also learn to become non judgmentally aware and observant of our thoughts and feelings, so that we are less overwhelmed by them. This allows us to gently guide our attention toward the sensations we choose. Both Compassion Focused and Acceptance and Commitment therapies have mindfulness techniques as a key component; and there is a large body of evidence to show that mindfulness provides benefits for both physical and psychological well-being.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people quickly identify thoughts and beliefs (cognitions) that lead to unhelpful feelings and behaviours, and to implement strategies that provide immediate improvement in quality of life. Techniques are many and varied, and essentially come down to those that address cognitions (such as thought monitoring and cognitive restructuring), and behavioural measures (such as progressive muscle relaxation and pleasant activity scheduling). CBT is the most widely used psychological intervention, and has a long history of research supporting its value to aid in human well-being.
