Happy Birthday!

AI Generated

It's the first anniversary of seeing a client in my own counselling room - affectionately termed the Therapy Shed by those who come here to learn a little more about themselves.  Finding a name for my room was actually hampered by incredibly creative suggestions about the name.  Including words that rhyme with SHED was a popular approach. Head. Bed. Bread. Red. Well, there are no beds, no psychiatrist couches and the only red is the colour of my pens and some of the flowers in the garden outside!  

But it is a place to figure out what is  going on in our heads. Those of you who have been to the Therapy Shed will appreciate the peace in the room. There may be birdsong, or rain on the roof, but I feel my shoulders go down as I sit there and breathe. It’s really amazing to see clients do the same when they arrive. Or by the time they leave. Going to see a counsellor can be hard at times, as we address those uncomfortable parts of our lives. So it’s lovely to have a safe, tranquil space for those who are doing this hard work.

​Research shows that the thing that has the biggest impact in counselling is the relationship between the counsellor and the client. And researchers from Monash University showed that the environment enhances therapeutic outcomes by improving those relationships, as well as reducing symptoms!