Congruence Counselling

How I can help you thrive

Insights and psychoeducation
Developing an intellectual understanding of what is occurring, why it is happening, and what it might mean

Empathy and holding space
Focussing on your emotions and your felt experience, unpacking an issue from multiple perspectives, exploring the nuances in detail

Goal setting and problem solving
Focussing on what you would like to happen and on what resources and skills you can use

Tools and strategies
Exploring ways to manage and cope, including developing new skills or techniques

How I counsel

Australian Counselling Association 22734

Daniel Palamara

Logotherapist and Registered Counsellor

In addition to general counselling qualifications, which include a Diploma of Counselling and current study in an Masters of Guidance and Counselling, I have undertaken an advanced course (equivalent to an advanced diploma) in meaning-centred therapy (logotherapy) and also hold a Master of Arts in Sociology (and a PhD in Earth Sciences). I have also undertaken training in Solution-Focussed Brief Therapy and Emotion-Focussed Therapy.

Counselling can provide effective solutions if you find yourself frequently emotionally overwhelmed, withdrawing to manage your emotions, unable to commit to your values, or struggling with tension, loneliness or shame.

I counsel from a belief that life is inherently challenging; anxiety, uncertainty, and mistakes are defining features of existence.

Yet, within that, how we choose to respond to our challenges defines who we are and what we become. To flourish and to thrive we need to be willing to face the dragon and confront our fears.

As well as general counselling for life's many challenges, I have particular energy for affective issues, such as anxiety, loneliness, shame, or low self-esteem, life conflicts and tensions, including value conflicts, relationships, and work tensions and existential issues, such as questions of meaning, and coping mechanisms.

Person-Centred

Focussing on empathy, acceptance,
authenticity, and holding space to
honour your experiences and stories.

Meaning-Centred

Using Socratic dialogue, we explore existential concerns such as choice, freedom, and responsibility, with a focus on values and meaning-making.

Solution-Focussed

The focus is on your desired outcome and how you can achieve it. We explore resources, tool, and strategies to create solutions.

Rational

I combine ancient wisdom and philosophical approaches, such as Stoicism and mindfulness, with modern, evidence-based methods.

Congruence Counselling is not a crisis service

If you are in crisis, please reach out to:

Lifeline
(Call 13 11 14, SMS 0477 13 11 14, Online Chat),

The Suicide Callback Service
(Call 1300 659 467),

The Beyond Blue Crisis Line
(1300 22 6436, Webchat Support Services),

or Emergency Services (Call 000).

Do you have a mental health plan?

Please note, you do not need a mental health plan from your general practitioner to see a counsellor.

However, counsellors and psychotherapists are not included under the Federal Government's Better Access Initiative. This means that counsellors cannot offer a rebate for clients with a mental health plan.

You may want to still see a counsellor because they tend to be more affordable, even after rebates, and have greater availability.

Connect

Ten people might say the exact same words of encouragement, but how you experience those words will be unique to each relationship.

Even the most well-intentioned words can feel invalidating or triggering if the connection is poor, and even the most confrontational statement can feel supportive if there is safe rapport.

Your priority, in choosing a counsellor, should therefore be the quality of the connection.

Research has shown that, to be most effective, counselling needs to be timely; if you're ready to talk now, you should also be looking for someone who can see you sooner, rather than later.

I provide private and confidential counselling online or in-person in Higgins, Canberra.

Sessions are $110 for a 60-minute session, invoiced after each session and payable by bank transfer. I'm available late afternoon and evenings, or Wednesday mornings, by appointment.