In all truthfulness, I have the best job in the world! Meeting people, yes there is that! Deep conversations. Absolutely! Collaborating toward well-being. You bet!
Yet there is one moment that gives me a warm thrill of joy in my counselling role. It is the moment when hope becomes tangible in the counselling room! It is seen when a light flickers in the eyes, or a body sits a bit taller, or a tentative smile plays on lips, or when a tense countenance relaxes just a little bit. It may be a tear of relief, or a firm shake of the hand on leaving, or a hard-won thank you after a counselling session.
Some clients arrive for counselling with little hope. It's like some important element of their humanity has been put out. Downtrodden, lost, broken, afraid. And yet they arrive carrying what they have, hoping for a way through. And sometimes, the way through is lit up like a beacon waiting to walk toward, and sometimes it is a slow dawning of realisation after a big journey of breaking down rocks and obstacles. They have not run away, they have not given up, they have not backed away! Holding hope.
Then there are the times when I hold hope for my clients when they no longer have the strength as they break through their barriers. That is when the counselling space becomes a resting place, a harbour, an anchorage to restore, rebuild and restock.
Hope is an anchor, a wick inside a candle, the heart of what can be possible.
And when hope is low, entrust someone to share their hope with you to help strengthen yours!
Janet is a qualified, registered counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) www.pacfa.org.au . Qualified with a B. Soc. Sc. (Couns), Grad. Dip. (Couns) and M. Couns. Prac. through Tabor College in Adelaide www.tabor.edu.au . Janet has extensive counselling experience and integrates counselling approaches to meet client needs.
Janet consults from rooms at Salisbury East, north of Adelaide, Tuesday and Wednesday only, and books video or telecalls by appointment.
If you would like to book an appointment with Janet, contact 0468 853 871 or email janet@anchoragecounselling.com.au.