What is Counselling and Integrated Therapy?

Registered Counsellors are clinical therapists who work with people seeking counselling support to assist in addressing personal challenges and distress. Counsellors use various approaches based on Person Centered Counselling, and other modalities, depending on training undertaken by the practitioner.

Most important for any client seeking support is their personal connection with the therapist, as this forms the basis for an effective therapeutic relationship between client and counsellor, to facilitate change and empower clients.

Professional counselling is a safe and confidential collaboration between qualified counsellors and clients to promote mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns.

Clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage. Counsellors work with children, young people, adults, couples, families, and groups. Counselling may be short term, long term, or over a lifetime, according to clients’ needs.

Counsellors are fully present with their clients, using empathy and deep listening to establish positive working relationships. Counselling is effective when clients feel safe, understood, respected, and accepted without judgement. Counsellors use evidence-based interventions and specialised interpersonal skills to facilitate change and empower clients.

Integrated Therapy is provided by counsellors who are trained in a range of modalities, for example, Somatic therapy, ACT, Narrative Therapy, CBT, Emotion Focused Therapy and Solution Focused therapy and will choose appropriate therapy to work with clients with a range of issues and from diverse backgrounds.

Clients may explore aspects of identity, spirituality, relationships with self and others, past experiences, parenting, grief and loss, trauma, domestic violence, child abuse, addictions, use of alcohol and other substances, depression, anxiety, and other experiences.

Changes facilitated by counselling include change in perspective, new understanding, enhanced capacity to tolerate and regulate feelings, and new decisions about life.

Registered counsellors have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate counselling qualification. They are required to participate in ongoing professional development and supervision, including their own counselling, to stay current with developments in their profession and to ensure safe, ethical practice.

*Confidentiality is limited when there are risks to the safety of the client or others.

Reference: Psychotherapy And Counselling Federation Australia (PACFA)