Are you currently feeling down, overwhelmed, anxious or stressed out? Are you experiencing interpersonal difficulties, relationship problems, work related stress, school problems, family issues, or just feeling burnt out?
Many of us experience these bumps at some time in our lives and while the majority of the time, we are able to make the necessary changes to improve our overall emotional and mental well-being without intervention, there are those times when it just seems impossible or too overwhelming, where we feel or believe that we do not have the energy to do it anymore.
Therapy can help you to find ways to do things differently and to equip you with the necessary tools to regain control of your life and the choices you make. It often helps to think of things in a healthier and different way which can lead to improved mental health. Therapy sessions can be used to learn new skills, it is a safe place to vent and to develop a better understanding of your life.
Through providing a supportive and safe place, therapy can assist you gain a better understanding of the roots and power of your emotions. You cannot change what you not aware of. Therapy can provide you with an opportunity to examine your life and to possibly make decisions about:
- what changes you can make,
- what is important to you and why, and
- how to put energy back into your relationships.
ABOUT ME AND HOW I PRACTICE
I am a registered Counselling Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Having started my career in private practice in East London where I grew up, I now work and live in Port Elizabeth. In my practice, I work with people of all ages, including young children and couples. In order to meet the unique needs of my client, I use an Eclectic approach, drawing on but not limited to the following therapeutic modalities:
- Gestalt Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Narrative Therapy
- Transactional Analysis (TA)
Drawing on the different therapeutic approaches allows you to make sense of your unique situation and experiences and to explore your own capabilities to overcome your difficulties. The therapeutic process can also include the practice of Mindfulness. Mindfulness practice teaches us to be awake and to live our lives intentionally.
THERAPY FOR CHILDREN
I also offer Play Therapy for younger children. Often children do not have the words to describe how they are feeling and through play, they are able to indirectly express themselves. Play is a child’s natural medium of self-expression and it provides an opportunity for the child to “play out” his/her feelings.
COUPLES COUNSELLING
The couples counselling process offers a neutral and safe place for couples to explore in more detail the difficulties and challenges taking place in their relationship. When couples come for counselling, they often see their problems as part of their relational identities and often, these problems have been internalised and become embedded in the stories that coupes tell about themselves. When this happens, couples prevent themselves from seeing alternatives, exceptions and possibilities. Through a process of externalisation, a space is created for collaborative investigation of the problem and its effects and allowing the couple to experience the relationship without the problem being dominant.
I can provide assistance in a number of different areas which include the following:
- Adjustment difficulties such as divorce, loss
- Anger difficulties
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Behavioural difficulties
- Interpersonal and relationship difficulties
- Mediation
- Mood disorders such as depression and bipolar
- Parenting Plans
- Stress related difficulties
- Trauma
- Assessments (scholastic, career and organisational)
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION
Professional qualifications and registrations obtained include:
- Master of Social Science, Counselling Psychology, Cum Laude (UFH)
- Master of Science, Organisational Behaviour (University of London)
- Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), Cum Laude (UFH)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Rhodes University)
- Registered Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
CONTACT
Address: 262 Cape Road, Port Elizabeth, 6001
Cell: 061 102 9313
Email: janet.byrnes@lantic.net
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