What Can You Expect From A Competent Counsellor & Hypnotherapist?
Counselling is about listening with empathy and sensitivity, being non-judgemental and respectful of your thoughts, opinions and rights. Alison can help you to understand yourself better, and improve the quality of your life. She can assist you to develop your skills and create new options to deal with issues more effectively. Counselling can help you to be honest and realistic about yourself and your relationships. Your relationship with Alison will be a supportive partnership which allows you to explore and give meaning to your life's experiences.
How I work
I work with individuals in the areas of : grief, trauma, self esteem, weight issues, phobias, confidence & assertiveness, relationships, fears, depression, stress, anxiety, sexual abuse, addictions, habits, life coaching and personal growth. I am an eclectic counsellor, using my own personal synthesis of different counselling models which is refined to suit the individual needs of each client.This principally involves a cognitive approach, which may be blended with Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT),Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)and Hypnotherapy.
I often record the relaxation process & suggestions. This tape can then be played at home to reinforce the positive changes. I will explain any techniques I intend to use & answer any questions about your treatment.
I often give homework to clients so that they continue to process material after the session has finished. I have an extensive collection of handouts, which I may give to clients to supplement the work done in session. They contain information or exercises to practise, which reinforces the therapy and encourages progress between sessions. The handouts are a valuable resource during the counselling journey and for future reference. I use a holistic approach, working with the mind-body interaction.I work together with doctors and natural health practitioners to help bring about integration of the medical and complementary health models, to achieve the highest level of client care.
I abide by the codes of ethics of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and the N.Z. Association Of Professional Hypnotherapists which cover counsellor responsibilities and client care.
What Is Interactive Drawing Therapy?
Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT) is a psychotherapy using drawing and writing as a medium to access the wise and resourceful parts of your unconscious. Strong and often deeply buried feelings can be experienced, yet be safely contained and transformed. It is a powerful tool for resolving past and present difficulties, hurts and losses. IDT allows the integration of lost or neglected parts of self leading towards wholeness. It can help reveal your potential and talents, and requires no artistic or drawing ability.
What is Hypnosis?
It is an altered state of awareness, and you enter this state of mind when you concentrate, or become absorbed in something of great interest such as daydreaming, watching TV, movies or computer games. Hypnosis is a natural state of being which you experience at least twice every day; immediately prior to sleeping, and upon wakening. It is at these times that you are naturally suggestible.
What is Hypnotherapy?
The state of drowsiness and relaxation is artificially induced, along with narrowing the mind’s attention so that the hypnotherapist’s suggestions have your undivided attention. The positive suggestions are formulated with your help as they work only if they are accepted as your own.While in Hypnosis you are very aware of everything that is happening around you. You can talk and move if you want to, or open your eyes and come out of Hypnosis—you are in control at all times.
Relaxation, concentration and involvement are the important elements of the process. While positive suggestions are an integral part of hypnotherapy, other techniques such as regression, may be used to communicate directly with the subconscious, so that unwanted behaviour and emotional responses originating in past events, can be changed or released.
The Power of the Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind controls your automatic actions, body responses and habits. It stores memories and emotional responses and these may be blocking or holding back your ability to change and grow. Just like changing the way information is stored in a computer, Hypnotherapy & NLP changes the way memory, emotions and behaviours have been stored, so that you can achieve your goals and potential without using willpower or avoidance.
For a full explanation of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy go to www.nzaph.co.nz
What is NLP?
NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. NLP is an eclectic collection of skills and techniques founded by John Grinder and Richard Bandler in 1975, and derived by observing experts in psychotherapy, business, hypnosis, law and education. It is a methodology for understanding the patterns or "programming" created by the interactions between the brain (neuro), language (linguistic), and the body that produce both effective and ineffective behaviour. The NLP techniques are designed to reprogramme the brain and the nervous system to respond differently - in a way that suits you better and serves you fully.
Preparing for a therapy session :
Believe that you are about to make positive changes in your life.
Know that it is your subconscious, with your consent, that makes the changes.
Be clear about what you want to change & achieve, & that your goal is realistic.
Trust that your therapist has the training, skills & intuition to help you achieve your goals
Be honest & open about your issues & voice any concerns with your therapist
Expect homework e.g. self hypnosis or working with handouts to maintain the gains between sessions
C.D.’s are available for; insomnia & sleep disturbance, stress & anxiety, weight reduction & smoking cessation.
Fees: $80 per hour, $95 for 1.25hrs, $112 for 1.5hrs.
Session times: First session is 1.5 hrs,subsequent sessions are 1.25 hrs. Session times can be altered to suit individual needs.
Payment: by cash, cheque, or eftpos. Sorry no credit card facility
A.C.C. $35 surcharge per session for sensitive claims clients: WINZ may pay this surcharge if you are on a benefit or low income.
Assistance: may be available through WINZ to assist with counselling costs if you are on a benefit or low income.
I am a member of the Bay of Plenty Therapy Foundation, which is funded mainly through the Ministry of Social Development for short term counselling for people unable to access counselling due to lack of money. Funding from other agencies must be excluded before applying. Please refer to their website for full details - www.boptherapyfoundation.co.nz
Parking: Off street parking is available in the public car parking building on the corner of Durham & Spring Streets.
Appointments: 8:30 - 6:00 pm. Monday to Friday. After hours appointments by arrangement.
If you wish to meet me before committing to a session, or discuss/ask questions about your situation, I will arrange to see you for a short time in between clients, free of charge.
Qualification Details
- Diploma of Counselling (Waikato Polytechnic)
- Diploma of Hypnotherapy
- Advanced Professional Certificate in Interactive Drawing Therapy
- Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors
- Member of the New Zealand Association of Professional Hypnotherapists
- Member of the Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand
- ACC registered to work with sexual abuse
- WINZ registered
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