About
"The proper function of man is to live, not to
exist."
Jack London
Improve Your Life counselling provides easily accessible, tailored, person-centred therapy to support you to achieve your desired outcomes and make necessary changes to live a more fulfilling life. We aim for a collaborative relationship, allowing you to retain control and contribute to all aspects of the process.
Receiving support, while you navigate past events and feelings, can be liberating, leading to overcoming the barriers that have prevented you from success, contentment and happiness in life. We focus upon holistic counselling and include meditation therapy to improve the benefits of each session.
As we are all unique, please remember that not all counsellors are suited to every individual. When there is no positive connection between you, or no chance of building rapport, don’t give up on counselling – just try another counsellor. The best outcomes will always occur if you are able to trust, and can completely open-up and share the sometimes extremely painful memories or emotions.
Our sessions are one hour – (50 minutes, plus 10 minutes for clarification and feedback) – and are conducted in a safe space, encouraging open discussion. Please select the mode of service that you will feel most comfortable with as a positive experience promotes better outcomes. See our Services for more information.
What Happens in a Counselling Session?
What to Expect
An Improve Your Life counselling session supports your journey towards change, and can be in-home, in-nature, via telephone or online. A qualified professional can help to provide you the support needed to overcome identified problems to enhance your quality of life. There is no one-size-fits-all solution in counselling which is why your input and feedback are important.
This might mean improving aspects of day-day living or your relationships, such as overcoming social isolation or improving connections. It can also explore issues such as grief and loss, a life-limiting diagnosis / condition, depression and anxiety, trauma-based events, or addictions.
As part of a session, we like to begin with 5-minute relaxation / meditation technique to improve our communications and teach you the skill of self-relaxation. This approach is evidence-based and has been shown to calm and clear the mind and improve overall wellbeing.
What is Holistic
Counselling?
Holistic Counselling
An holistic counselling approach to health and wellness involves exploring all aspects of you as an individual, not simply focussing on your mental health needs. This approach considers physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and identifies issues that create barriers to achieving your desired goals. All of these interact and influence your overall quality of life.
Holistic counselling has been shown to have a much greater impact on lowering stress, depression and anxiety, as well as supporting individuals in determining purpose and finding happiness. It is a collaborative, person-centred approach which places the counsellor and individual as partners in the process, where you are valued and supported in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
The use of meditation or relaxation techniques can improve clarity when contemplating and defining the broader aspects which exist within your environment and affect your quality of life. Click here for more information.
Assessment
Your situation and concerns are assessed during the first interaction and monitored throughout follow-up sessions. This ensures that your goals and desired outcomes are in focus, progress is acknowledged, and the process is modified when needed.
During a session, with your consent, notes will be taken to highlight aspects of the conversations or points for further discussions. By keeping records, we can effectively complete progress notes and reports whenever needed.
Assessment allows interactions to stay on track and enhances opportunities to work towards identified needs.
We believe that by asking for your feedback we can effectively determine how the relationship is progressing. If something isn’t working for you, or perhaps you want to explore different options then that is all part of the flexible pathway towards positive outcomes.
All feedback is considered an important part of the process to ensure your needs are being met and to modify where needed.
Privacy, Confidentiality and Consent
As part of our professional commitment your safety is our priority, and we adhere to our professional associations Codes of Conduct and Practice. We securely store your personal information and will release your details only with your consent. For example, this could occur when you are transferring to another service provider who would benefit from your progress information. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details on our practice commitments and your rights.
Cancellation Policy
- Please contact us by phone (call or text) as early as possible.
- If a session is cancelled 48 hours or more prior to the arranged session time, there is no charge.
- Less than 48 hours prior to arranged time incurs 100% of agreed fee (except where an in-person session can alternatively be booked as an online or phone session on the same day).
- Please see our Cancellation Policy for more detailed information on when and how to cancel or change appointments.
Complaints
We take pride in our professionalism and our continuing commitment to further learning to improve our practice. We believe in transparency as part of best practice. All complaints are treated seriously and acted upon immediately. You are encouraged to voice any issues during or after the session, or in writing via email. You are also encouraged to engage with an advocate to support you during this process. If you have any issues with our services, please advise us so that we can rectify them or offer alternatives.
Our Memberships
All discussions in our sessions are confidential.
Improve Your Life practices non-discrimination — we will not discriminate anyone on any grounds. You will not be judged on your present or past situations, beliefs or behaviours, or personal choices.
With us you will feel free to discuss anything that is concerning you.
Please click here to see our Privacy Policy.
Improve Your Life Counselling – ABN 55 956 135 088 – is a registered Australian business providing professional services by qualified practitioners.
Cancellation Policy: Less than 48 hrs prior to the session will incur 100% of agreed fees. See more here.