The Work of Counselling
Counselling is an opportunity to have a conversation that invites care, reflection, respect and new learnings about the self and the potential to create new beginnings for a person’s life. I work collaboratively through valuing the client’s agency, knowledge and resources. The focus of the work is discovering with the client that which supports and sustains them.
How I work
I provide in-person, phone or online consultations (Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp etc).
I work alongside the client to:
- Develop a working relationship that is safe, respectful, ethical and that values their knowledge, expertise and lived experience.
- Identify and develop the hopes and preferences that are important to them in their life and relationships.
- Understand and address aspects of their life and relationships that they consider to be meaningful.
- Take into account and address the effects of social, cultural, spiritual, physical, and emotional aspects of life that they value.
- Regularly check how counselling is progressing and access the best possible resources and support that are available.
- Discuss and address any questions or concerns that may arise.
Confidentiality
I take all possible steps to maintain privacy and confidentiality. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in some circumstances, especially in situations that involve imminent danger to clients, or people that they know.
Counselling supervision
“Supervision includes personal support, mentoring professional development and reflection upon the relationships between persons, theories, practices, work contexts and cultural perspectives” (NZAC Code of Ethics, p.11; Robert Ludbrook, 2003, p.14).
As a counsellor and professional supervisor I regularly consult with my supervisor. In counselling supervision, practitioners discuss aspects of their work in a confidential, collegial environment as a way of monitoring and developing their practice and enhancing the counselling process for the client and themselves. My supervisor and I adhere to the NZ Association of Counsellors Code of Ethics.
As a professional supervisor my aim is to work with practitioners in the fields of health and social practice to create an ethically-sound, respectful and safe working relationship. The NZAC Code of Ethics informs my mahi/work as it requires its members to uphold the key principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, namely “protection, participation and partnership with Maori” (s.1).
My commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi:
- I manifest the principle of Protection by valuing the knowledge’s, expertise and lived experiences of those who consult with me.
- I manifest the principle of Participation through respecting diversity and promoting social justice.
- I manifest the principle of Partnership through grounding my practice in the concept of ‘ako’, or mutual learning. By making my goals and processes visible I make transparent the effects and nature of the power dynamic in the relationship. Working collaboratively opens the possibility for this to occur in the work of the practitioner and their client/s.
Counselling notes and records
I securely store any notes or records that are generated through counselling. Notes are retained for 10 years, then securely disposed of.