HOW I CAN HELP YOU
We all meet personal challenges at various times of our lives, and sometimes we need help to guide us through them.
Are you a woman in midlife who is trying to balance the effects of menopause, caring for elderly parents, facing the empty nest, changing careers or considering retirement?
These challenges can lead to depression, anxiety, loneliness, grief, low self-esteem and feelings of despair.
Counselling can help to help you to feel heard, understood and seen, and provide the support you need to work though these challenges.
We all need a little help and support at times.
My services include one-on-one counselling via Zoom or in person, group counselling for women going through divorce or separation, and a support group for women who have migrated to Australia and are struggling with the difficulties of living apart from family.
Areas we can work on:
Who you believe yourself to be and who you would like to be
Discover your needs and learn how to express them
Develop coping skills & resilience
Work through Grief & Loss
Explore your close relationships
Care for elderly parents without burnout
Effects of menopause on your mental wellbeing
Changing career
Personal growth & self development
Goals and aspirations for your second half of life
Counselling can help you to figure out your next steps.
COUNSELLING SERVICES
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Sometimes we know we need help, but weāre not sure what kind of help that is, or where to find it. If youāre feeling depressed, suffer from anxiety, or feel stuck without seeing a way forward, counselling or psychotherapy can help you find new direction by unravelling those big questions youāre struggling with, and help you gain a better understanding of yourself.
I offer both counselling and psychotherapy sessions.
They are conducted in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space, where I can help you to explore what it is to be you. You will learn how to become truly aware of who you are, and find the positive change you have been looking for.
It is my mission to support and guide you through this process, and provide you with very practical ways to gain purpose and confidence. Working either one-on-one, or in partnership with like-minded women in counselling and support groups, you will find your voice again, and create a life you can be proud of.
With the right counselling and support, you can develop the confidence you need to make changes and move forward with your life in a more positive way
Counselling
Counselling is a way of looking at a particular issue, challenge, problem or concern you may have. Your counsellor will work with you, in a caring and supportive way, to explore the issue and āunpackā how it is affecting you, and your life. It is also possible to take things further, and together with your counsellor, explore other areas of your life - how you approach them, how you deal with challenges, how to better understand your thought processes. This can help improve your emotional strength as well as your personal relationships. How long it takes is up to you; it can be a short while or a long while. But it doesnāt have to be forever. Your counsellorās job is to help build your resilience and empower you with the skills to move forward through life stronger and happier.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy takes the counselling experience a bit further. If you feel aspects of your life are stuck, or if you feel emotionally overwhelmed by thoughts, emotions or circumstances, it can affect your sense of fulfilment and personal growth. In psychotherapy you can explore your āselfā. This will help you gain more awareness of your relationship with others, as well as your relationship with yourself, so that you can better understand the environment you live in. By understanding your past, you might be able to understand its influence over your life and how you live your life today.
Gestalt psychotherapy has a strong focus on our emotional, mental and physical experiences in the here and now. We pay greater attention to the internal process we experience, our inner world, rather than the content, or stories, in our lives. This gives us insight as to why we might choose certain behaviours, or make decisions the way we do. This type of therapy enables us to gain clarity and notice that we have a choice - we can continue our old behaviours, or we can experiment with new ways of behaviour and making decisions.
SESSIONS
How I can Help You
My services include one-on-one counselling for anxiety, depression or relationship issues, group counselling for women going through divorce or separation, and a support group for women who have migrated to Australia and are struggling with the difficulties of living apart from family.
Working Together.
With the right counselling and support, I can help you to develop the confidence you need to make changes and move forward with your life in a more positive way.
One-on-one Counselling
Finding the right counsellor is important. Not every counsellor will be right for you; everyone is different and has different needs. It may help you to know that I will create a safe space for you to share your experience, and I will listen to you, in your own time, in a warm and non-judgemental way.
One-on-One online or in-person sessions can be booked via the calendar.
Please contact me for an alternative if these times are not suitable for you.
Support Groups & Group Counselling
You are not alone!
It can often be helpful to meet with others who are experiencing similar issues. My group counselling and support groups consist of small groups of no more than six women who meet regularly online.
To register for either support group, email counselling@birgitpatenall.com.au or call me on 0425 835 112 for more details.
About Me
Hello, Iām Birgit Patenall, a professional counsellor and registered member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). My experience covers a range of therapies. At all times, I work in accordance with the ethical guidelines of the ACA and attend regular Clinical Supervision and Professional Development courses and programs. Together we can work out the best way for you, whether it is one-on-one in-person sessions, online or telephone counselling, or in a therapy or support group. Whichever way we choose to work together, my approach is the same - it will be a holistic, non-judgemental, patient and supportive experience.
CONTACT BIRGIT
Have any Questions?
If you have any questions, you can send me a confidential message, and I will respond to you as soon as I can.
Phone. +61 425 835 112 | Email. counselling@birgitpatenall.com.au
