How we work
With a focus on holistic wellbeing, an eclectic and often integrative approach to intervention is used. During your initial assessment, a psychologist will work with you to determine which approaches are best for you. Below we provide an overview of the main modalities that are used at Aware Psychology & Coaching.
- COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)
- ACCEPTANCE COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)
- MINDFULNESS
- POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
- SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY (SFT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that is focused on identifying unhelpful ‘behaviours’ and ‘thoughts’ that lead to low mood and depression, or which generate worries and anxiety.
CBT helps a client to develop a more positive way of thinking about life situations. The client is guided by the therapist and actively participates in identifying their unhelpful thought processes and behaviours. The client is then guided and made responsible for adopting new thought patterns and techniques, resulting in more positive emotional responses.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an intervention model that can be used for both therapy and coaching.
ACT may be regarded as a type of cognitive behavioural therapy that is based on mindfulness and values. ACT can assist with maximising a client’s potential to live a richer and more meaningful life and can also assist with enriching overall well-being through mindful values-based living. The key message of ACT is to accept what is out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves your life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the psychological process of directing one’s focus to experiences occurring in the present moment.
Mindfulness involves training in self-awareness that was adapted from Buddhist mindfulness meditation. With the use of mindful practices, clients learn to accept emotions and sensations without judgment or question. Mindfulness strategies can assist with calming heightened emotions which in turn assists with easing intrusive thoughts.
Positive Psychology
Positive psychology stems from the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.
It emphasises the positive influences in a person’s life such as character strengths, optimistic emotions and constructive thought processes. Positive psychology aims to assist clients with identifying positive emotions, thought patterns and strengths from moment to moment as opposed to focusing on problem areas.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term future-focused therapeutic approach.
SFBT helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Generally speaking, the foundations of the desired solution are often already present in the client’s life and become the basis for ongoing change. SFBT focuses on how change happens rather than how problems develop. As the client becomes aware of how they want things to be different the focus moves to how they can make it happen. Envisioning a detailed picture of how life will be when things are better creates hope and expectation which in turn makes a solution possible.
