Amanda's counseling philosophy

As a Holistic Counselor I work very differently than the traditional medical model of diagnosis and disease. Instead when I work with an individual, couple or family we work together to re-discover the strengths, skills and talents that are already present and then take them into the presenting problem to create solutions toward wholeness.

I work from a perspective that as humans we are fully integrated beings, not a collection of parts. In my work with clients I acknowledge the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of our being.

A problem can affect all aspects

For instance, when someone is feeling stressed they may find it is difficult to focus or concentrate at work, they may feel emotionally overwhelmed, have a headache and lose sight of their goals or what is important and meaningful to them.

In working with clients I acknowledge from a holistic counseling perspective that every situation affects all aspects of mind, emotion, body and soul.

Counseling can help create change

We can often see the challenges in our life and easily create solutions. Other times it is more difficult to see clearly all the layers of a situation and what our options are; we feel limited and stuck. At different points in our life we all need some unbiased, non-judgmental support. This is when counseling can help create change.

Counselor's role as a mirror

Counseling is a unique relationship in which the Counselor’s job is to hold up a mirror for the client to see him- or herself in. We all have experiences in which we can’t see things about ourselves without a mirror. Whether our hair is fully combed, whether we have something stuck in our teeth, or whether we have a wound in a hard to see place, we often need mirrors to see these things well enough to do something about them. And, we need someone to hold the mirror so we can see things that are at more hidden angles.

In addition to knowing what angles to hold the mirror, the counselor understands that sometimes it takes a while for folks to see what they need, especially if there are more subtle things needing recognition.

Finally, because most people tend to be hard on themselves, the counselor knows to hold the mirror in such a way that the client can see him- or herself from a caring, supportive and sympathetic perspective.

Counseling strategy

When we take our problems to friends or family members they offer advice and give suggestions, trying to be helpful. Often they will respond in a way that is in their best interest, not because they are selfish, it is just human nature.

But a counselor is not affected by the choices you make in your life and can stay unbiased. Also, a counselor will not give you advice. Instead she will ask open-ended and reflective questions or paraphrase what you are saying.

When a counselor is doing this, there is a strategy behind it. Remember, counseling is not about experts fixing problematic people; mirrors don’t comb your hair. They just motivate us to pick up the comb by showing the areas that need our attention.

When counselors ask such questions they are not necessarily seeking answers from the clients. Rather, they are simply giving the clients an opportunity to focus on the things that seem out of view for them. Often this involves pointing the mirror to some neglected painful emotions.

Finding clarity

Counseling is about reflecting back to the client that he or she is being heard and providing them an opportunity to hear themselves. Often, hearing one’s own thoughts and feelings in another person’s words adds a clarity and support that is difficult to grasp when the emotinal turmoil simply swims around in our heads without any form.

When a person can see the most complete reflection of themself, pain and all, they are more capable of learning about the details of themself. With this enhanced perspective, those in counseling can make the adjustments needed to make their lives more satisfying.

Client's own relationship

Through the process of using the mirror, you the client are actually forming a new relationship with yourself, in more emotional detail and with a more accepting perspective.

Thus, the client in pain and confusion begins to form a close relationship with the client as a growing individual, increasingly equipped to take care of his or her Self. This point is important to emphasize because it explains Counseling as a venture aimed at helping clients become autonomous rather than fostering dependence on professionals.