Counselling & Psychotherapy
Inner Work bases its services on mutual respect, encouragement and the belief that each person is a unique, whole individual. Life will always bring us the experiences that we need to grow with. Often professional support is useful to people wanting to grow as they search for meaning in their lives, relief from distress, increased self-awareness, deeper self-capacities or solutions to specific problems.
When looking for help or support:
There are many approaches that are used by therapists to promote change and wellness with their clients. These are known as therapeutic modalities. It is generally important for the person looking for support to learn about what training the therapist has, what modalities they are trained in, and what their experience is with the issues that you wish to work on. We are all subject to social conditioning and have been influenced by the environment in which we grew up. We have all experienced some form of trauma. All of these can influence our behaviour and our emotions that arise from within, draw our attention what is and isn’t working for us and, therefore, what we have to learn.
Sometimes we need to learn new skills, in counselling, and sometimes we want to understand the underlying psychological dynamics that are influencing our thinking and behaviour, which we can do in psychotherapy.
Inner Work provides support for people dealing with:
- challenges in relationships
- self-esteem & boundary issues
- work related stress
- addictions/substance abuse
- depression
- emotions/anger issues
- anxiety, panic
- rape, sexual assault
- partner abuse or assault
- traumatic experiences
- family-of-origin issues
- lack of meaning in life
- complicated grief
- vicarious trauma
What to expect in therapy
Respect
The basis of the work is mutual respect and encouragement. The therapeutic relationship is one of co-workers dealing with the problems of living. the therapist has acquired a unique set of tools that he/she uses in a co-operative relationship with the client.
Confidentiality
Therapy is a confidential relationship between the therapist and client. What is said in the therapy room, stays in the therapy room. There are legal limits on confidentiality which will be explained in your first session.
Increased Hopefulness - Movement Toward Your Goals
After the first session a client may well experience some relief or an increase in understanding that could increase their hope for some resolution to the challenges they are facing. If after the third session there isn’t a sense of movement toward their goals, a client would do well to have a discussion with their therapist about these feelings or concerns. If the therapist does not understand or ignores your concerns, it is okay to leave and find yourself a new therapist. But we encourage you not to give up on the growthful journey you have started. Some therapists are out-come oriented; that is, they listen to your goals, and are focused on what it is that you wish to change, understand or achieve. WE attempt to be objective about your changes, providing relatively objective feedback about the changes you experience.
Reasonable Cost
Everyone should have reasonable access to professional psychotherapy support. The above services are provided on a free-for-service basis. A sliding fee scale is offered based on individual or family income. There is often financial support for those who cannot afford therapy. This support may also include reimbursement for transportation costs.
Consultations
Phone or in-person consultations are available to help you find the find the right service for you. The therapeutic relationship is a special relationship and you should "shop around" to find the right therapist for you. (See note below.) Listen carefully when making enquiries; notice the therapist's attitude, and level of interest in your personal issues. People tell us that they can learn a lot about the therapist on the phone by listening carefully for evidence of respect, interest and non-judgmentalism.