Presenting Issues at Private Practice Counselling & Family Therapy

In today’s world, there is a myriad of presenting issues that clients bring into the clinical practice of a counsellor and family therapist.

Many people are stressed due to the pressure of our modern society with the 24/7 working and operating phenomenon, high costs of living, longer working hours, and both spouses working with less extended family support. The nuclear family is under threat with ever-increasing divorce rates, the mobile nature of our working lives and the demands of meeting societal expectations. Today, even children know and use the word ‘stressed’. Over recent years it appears to be that more and more clients struggling with broken relationships, bankruptcy, eating disorders, suicidal ideation and anger management issues.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another condition and a term that is very commonly known and used today to explain the difficulties people have with coping that can result in fear and panic. Stress may create in many an exaggerated response of fight, flight, or freeze. Childhood anxiety seems to be on the increase with more and more parents bringing their children in to gather ideas to deal with these symptoms.

Depression

Another vast area of concern is depression, and this term is commonly referred to today. Increased melancholy and long sustained periods of sadness overwhelm sufferers of all ages. Many teenagers are now self-harming, and cutting appears to be on the increase. Emotional pain, isolation and loneliness are evident, and relief is desired.

Addictions

Addictions are widespread and can develop from obsessions and compulsions as they become excessive with the substance or activity, eventually controlling the person. Binge drinking and drug abuse is a trend on the increase, along with electronic and internet overuse. The ease of access to the internet seems to feed a temptation to view hardcore pornography, excessively play games and/or become involved in inappropriate long-distance relationships. Many people seek assistance to quit the addiction, and many parents are concerned for their teenagers and request help with parenting skills and improved communication.

Relationships

Couples mainly present with problems communicating with each other and their children. Most struggle to be heard, respected, loved, trusted and appreciated. They fall short of the knowledge of how to improve their relationships while remaining nurturing, and to know how to resist abuse.

Grief and Loss

Grief and loss strikes all people, and some have situations of multiple or compounded grief. Some are stuck in their movement through the pain of the loss toward acceptance and adjustment. The mourning is not only in relation to losing loved ones but can be widespread to encompass the loss of friends, pets, property, health, faculties, or mobility. In our society, there is an increase in the number of aging people who may struggle to cope with their losses.

Trauma

Through life, some people suffer from trauma, and this has been evident in Australia’s history and in recent times with the survivors of the devastating floods and fires. Traumatic events may cause severe stress disorders in some who need therapeutic assistance to deal with the negative effects and move toward recovery.

Counselling

A well trained and qualified professional Christian counsellor and family therapist can assist clients in exploring their options to deal with the past, present and future. They can cover areas such as forgiveness, guilt, self-identity, self-acceptance, self-esteem, irrational thinking, personality weaknesses, differentiation, and communication skills. Tools can be offered to assist with the work a client will commit to for change and improvement. Hope and desire are essential ingredients for growth, maturity and peace. Aligning with Biblical truth is the essential ingredient that underpins thorough Christian therapeutic practice, knowing the power of God and Jesus as the most excellent counsellor and healer of all.

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32).

Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:13-15

Tracey Milson
Counsellor & Family Therapist
Cred. Dip Bus Mgmt, Cert IV TAE, Cert IV Tel couns, Adv.Dip Couns Fam Ther,
B.Soc.Sc (Couns), Grad Cert Hum Behaviour, Master Couns (process), CCAA (Clin), PACFA (reg).