Holistic Counselling
A Holistic approach to Counselling recognizes that the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical elements of each person comprise a system, and attempts to treat the whole person, concentrating on the cause as well as symptoms. Examples of other holistic therapies include Acupuncture, Massage, Reflexology, and Naturopathy. They usually do not originate from a western medical tradition but incorporate both Eastern and Western modalities. Holistic Counselling works alongside and with Traditional Western and Eastern modalities to enhance, understand and complement ones Wellbeing.
Holistic Counselling philosophy and practice is based on the following principles:
- Respect for the individual as a whole person rather than a cluster of symptoms or problems.
- Understanding the individual as a member of a wider family, social and political context which profoundly influences her/his life.
- Reverence for the individual as the expert on her/his own life who will be empowered by discovering the answers to (their own) questions and problems in their lives.
- Acknowledging that it is the basic right of every human being to be loved and acknowledged and feel good about themselves.
Holistic Counselling includes several approaches to counselling and therapy. Approaches incorporated are - developmental theory person-centered or client-centered therapy, which is around the clients' capacity for self-direction and understanding of his/her own development.
Some other approaches incorporated into Holistic Counselling and Therapy include humanistic psychotherapy, holistic health, solution focused outcomes, cognitive behavioural therapy CBT, meditations, mindfulness, guided imagery, focusing and body work. A key ingredient in this approach is the meeting between therapist and client and the possibilities for dialogue. The aim of Holistic Counselling Therapy is to help the client approach a stronger and healthier sense of self, also called self-actualisation. This is part of Holistic Counselling’s humanistic motivation to be a science of human experience, focusing on the actual lived experience of persons.
