Why Counselling Works
The Key to Change –
Psychotherapy Neuroplasticity
Why Counselling Works
One of the first questions I always receive, particularly
from skeptics and those who have never sought any form of mentoring, coaching,
or counseling before, ask: “What is it that you do that actually seems to work,
and have made such a profound change in my friend’s life?”
You may find the answer to this question
surprising. It is not actually anything that I “do,” but it is what I invite my
clients to “do and discover” that initiates change! The tools we use as a team
are psychological ones, which create physical changes in your brain!
Most of the clients in my counselling therapy
Toronto practice come to me as a result of referrals. People with whom I have
worked and who have experienced positive and or profound changes in their lives
frequently honour our work together by sharing their newfound knowledge and
ways of being with friends and family.
There is a popular saying in the sciences of
neurology and psychology; “The neurons that fire together wired together… And
the neurons that fire apart wire apart.” This saying stems out of some fairly
recent research in which we have learned that the human brain can actually
rewire itself, changing old behaviors, old habits, and old beliefs, to new
behaviors habits and beliefs. This ability is called neuroplasticity. For many
years it was thought that the human brain was molded in our childhood and
remained rather static once we became an adult. Alas the old and false phrase,
“You can’t teach old dogs new tricks!” But it turns out that Rover is more
trainable than we thought!
Imagine that you lived in the country surrounded
by hundreds of acres of wheat that stretched high into the blue sky a good 10
feet and more! Your best friend lived in a neighbouring farmhouse over a mile
away on the other side of the wheat field. Each day for years you would walk
your dog through the field on the same path you to have your morning coffee
with your best friend. Years of repetitive walking throughwhy counselling works
the same trail had laid down a very clear path through the otherwise obscuring
wheat. You would have quickly reached the point where you had to give no
thought whatsoever as to how to find your friend’s house, and you would
naturally and intuitively follow the path that you had laid down over the
years. On one morning walk your faithful dog veered off the trail following his
nose to an unknown destination. You leave the trail in hot pursuit following
the few strands of broken wheat only to catch up to your loyal canine buddy who
continues to lead you through the wheat field and down the hill exiting out the
front door of your friend’s house.
In the days that follow Rover continues to lead
you down this new path that is becoming more self-evident with every use.
Within a few weeks you no longer need Rover’s guidance as you can clearly find
your way on your own, and after a few months you have totally neglected your
old trail in favor of the new and more enjoyable path. In fact, by this time,
the old trail has grown in with new stands of wheat and any attempt to follow the
old path would prove pretty difficult.
The neurons in your brain are much like the wheat
in the field. Over the years you have laid down neuron paths that connect
things that you see hear and do, with an associated feeling and possible
judgment. In less than a millisecond you’re brain travels these neural
pathways. We now know these connections are no longer permanent. Through the
consistent application of new approaches and ways of being in your world you
can lay down new pathways which connect the things you see here and do, with
the new associated feelings and judgments which serve you and your life goals
in a much more positive and productive manner.
By utilizing various tools and therapeutic approaches my
clients are able to create these new pathways and lay them down as new and
permanent ways of being. In our sessions clients learn how to create these new
pathways with some very simple tools. Multiple approaches are used including
cognitive therapy and others. Some issues may require more work then others as
depression-hurts, change can be uncomfortable and issues like agoraphobia
treatment are complex. Research confirms what my clients already know, Why
Conselling Worksprofound change can happen within a week and lasting change can
be created in as little as 1 to 4 months if they consistently apply themselves
to walking on these new paths.
The now scientifically excepted concept of
neuroplasticity has only come about in the 1980’s and 90’s. It is always
comforting when science confirms what humans have always known – you can always
‘change your mind!’
To book an appointment – in person in Toronto.
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