Sonas Counselling

ABOUT

Sonas means “Happiness” in Gaelic and our symbol represents happiness. At Sonas Counselling, we focus on growth to create happiness

We are a local counselling practice in the Kilmore area that offers comprehensive counselling to adults, couples, adolescents, children and families.

We provide therapy to people of all ages, genders and gender expressions, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

Our therapy space is a safe, confidential and nurturing environment. We take into consideration your whole experience as a client from the moment you enter the waiting room.

We respect the time and energy you give for your therapy and therefore mindfully space out our appointments to ensure that you receive the appropriate care and time that is required for your counselling process.

Using techniques such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution-focused Brief Therapy we can assist you with:

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

(Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy)

• Family Counselling


• Anxiety


• Depression


• Stress


• Bullying


• Workplace Issues


• Career Counselling

At Sonas Counselling we understand that life is busy so whilst we prefer to do our sessions face-to-face we do have an online Skype Counselling option available.

SERVICES

At Sonas Counselling we are able to provide a number of therapies to suite your needs. Here is a brief outline on the therapies available:

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is designed to help people who suffer repeated episodes of depression and chronic unhappiness.

It combines the ideas of cognitive therapy with meditative practices and attitudes based on the cultivation of mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.

Using tools and Apps designed to promote mindfulness in both adults and children, we hope to be able to teach our clients how to use mindfulness based therapy in everyday situations.

Mindfulness helps you see with greater clarity how you may approach your moment-by-moment experience skilfully, taking more pleasure in the good things that often go unnoticed or unappreciated, and dealing more effectively with the difficulties you encounter, both real and imagined

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy is based on Dr John Gottman's research that began in the 1970’s and continues to this day. The research has focused on what makes relationships succeed or fail. From this research, Drs John and Julie Gottman have created a method of therapy that emphasises a “nuts and bolts” approach to improving clients’ relationships.

This method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy in your relationship. To help you productively manage conflicts, you will be given methods to manage “resolvable problems’ and dialogue about “gridlocked” (or perpetual) issues. We will also work together to help you appreciate your relationship’s strengths and to gently navigate through its vulnerabilities.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy consists of five parts:

1. Assessment


2. Treatment


3. “Phasing Out” of Therapy


4. Termination


5. Outcome Evaluation

Early in the assessment phase, you will be given some written materials to complete that will help us better understand your relationship. In the first sessions we will talk about the history of your relationship, areas of concern ad goals for treatment.

In the next session, I will meet with you individually to learn each of your personal histories and to give each of you an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. In the final session of assessment, I will share with you my recommendations for treatment and work to define mutually agreed upon goals for your therapy.

Most of the work will involve sessions where you will be seen together as a couple. However, there may be times when individual sessions are recommended. I may also give you exercises to practice between sessions.

The length of therapy will be determined by your specific needs and goals. In the course of therapy, we will establish points at which to evaluate your satisfaction and progress. Also, I will encourage you to raise any questions or concerns that you have about therapy at any time.

In the later stage of therapy, we will “phase out” or meet less frequently in order for you to test out new relationship skills and to prepare for termination of the therapy. Although you may terminate therapy whenever you wish, it is most helpful to have at least one session together to summarise progress, define the work that remains, and say goodbye.

In the outcome-evaluation phase, as per the Gottman Method, four follow-up sessions are planned: one after six months, one after twelve months, on after eighteen months, and one after two years. These sessions have been shown through research to significantly decrease the chances of relapse into previous, unhelpful patterns. In addition, commitment to providing the best therapy possible requires ongoing evaluation of methods used and client progress. The purpose of these follow-up sessions then will be to fine-tune any of your relationship skills if needed, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy received.

Cognitive Behavioural & Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive therapy focuses on an individual's pattern of thinking while behaviour therapy looks at associated actions.

When combined skillfully, these two approaches provide a very powerful method to help overcome a wide range of emotional and behavioural problems in children, adolescents and adults.

Depending on the problem, CBT may involve a mix of both therapeutic modalities, so some issues are better treated with more behavioural methods and some with more cognitive methods.

One of the strengths of CBT is that it aims not just to help people overcome the symptoms that they are currently experiencing, but it also aims to teach the person new skills and strategies that they can apply to future problems. It focuses on the 'here and now' whilst developing an understanding of past styles of thinking and behaviour that have developed over time.

CBT is an active therapy - sometimes described as a 'doing therapy' rather than a 'talking therapy'. So, individuals will be expected to be active participants in their own therapy. This means that you can expect to be fully involved in your sessions and to develop with your therapist some tasks to practice in between sessions.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) places focus on a person's present and future circumstances and goals rather than past experiences. In this goal-oriented therapy, the symptoms or issues bringing a person to therapy are typically not targeted.

SFBT aims to help people experiencing difficulty find tools they can use immediately to manage symptoms and cope with challenges.

We are grounded in the belief that although individuals may already have the skills to create change in their lives, they often need help identifying and developing those skills.

SFBT recognizes that people already know, on some level, what change is needed in their lives, and it is our aim to help the people in our care clarify their goals.

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