MY FOCUS COUNSELING follows the GESTALT approach. Gestalt therapy recognizes the natural capacity of human beings to achieve balance and to positively change their life. Such innate potential to lead a harmonious existence, that is to fluidly respond to one’s own needs or to the surrounding context, can reach a stalemate due to past failures which tend to reiterate. Gestalt Therapy solves the impasse by basically working on the awareness of the client.
The Gestalt Counselor does not attempt to grasp the problem of the client rationally but rather explores it by means of a focused dialogue capable of stimulating and bringing forth all the answers that are already present in the client, guiding him or her through a practice of awareness. The relationship between awareness and the wellbeing of mind and body has already been widely recognized by the various stress reduction clinics across the Unites States which practice meditation.
Through a very special kind of “dialogue” which could be considered prodigious and specific techniques, the counselor helps the client to change his or her own mental perspective rather than the external circumstance. The counselor helps the client to become aware of his or her way of functioning in everyday life, to get rid of old mental schemes and to experience new solutions. Through the practice of awareness a person can actually recognize his or her own existential blocks, integrate neglected parts, recover one’s own wholeness and reconnect with oneself and with the outside world in a new and different way. There are several mechanisms that lead a person to memorize past failures, a “repetition compulsion” that reminds one of the concept of karma but also of the fact that the environment can only be changed from within.
Counseling therapy is mainly characterized by the following elements:
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It is a trust-based relationship that is able to produce a change through an authentic and focused dialogue
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It is short-term (10 - 15 sessions)
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It consents to explore “sore points” and compulsive mechanisms
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It allows to remain fully focused and to avoid defense mechanisms which lead to escaping self-awareness
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Therapy catalyzes and accelerates change mechanisms and the closure of open issues or so-called “unfinished businesses”
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It allows to acquire very precious tools to manage one’s life and to apply autonomously: the ability to observe life in the here & now, to “stay with” the present experience and to this experience the awareness that leads to change.
Counseling therapy begins with a free consultation in order for counselor and client to have the chance to get to know each other and to jointly outline the main topics to tackle. Counseling therapy is relatively short-term as it does not work on mental disorders as already mentioned but rather on life challenges and issues that are limiting and that can be overcome by simply learning to use and develop one’s own potential. The commitment of the counselor is to make this happen.