121 Here For You

Counselling

Coaching

Vitalija Grundaite, MBACP

Person-centred counsellor

“When a person realizes he has been deeply heard, his eyes moisten. I think in some real sense he is weeping for joy. It is as though he were saying, "Thank God, somebody heard me. Someone knows what it's like to be me”

― Carl R. Rogers

I have learned that pain and traumatic experiences do not fade or shrink with time. With the right support, we can outgrow it. Let me be there for you while you open those doors to past experiences you haven't felt safe doing for so long or didn't want to burden those close to you.

Specialising working with:

- Trauma

- Service personnel

- PTS

- Men's mental health

- Anxiety & depression

- Spirituality

Spiritual therapy

Spiritual therapy is an approach to healing that considers the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. It helps individuals explore the spiritual, metaphysical, and existential aspects of their experiences, offering insights and tools for personal growth and development.

In addition to physical, mental, and emotional well-being, spiritual health is a crucial element of our overall wellness. Many individuals utilize spiritual activities to reach personal objectives, restore harmony in their lives, or alleviate stress. Some individuals establish personal challenges, such as performing acts of kindness or assisting others. Engaging in spirituality offers numerous advantages. It can enhance relationships with others, foster personal growth, and provide a deeper understanding of life. Furthermore, it can enhance one's quality of life and capacity for forgiveness, enabling the release of past resentments and anger.

Service personnel seek counselling for several issues, many like what civilians seek counselling for – depression, anxiety, PTS, anger management, and substance abuse – but all within the context of the demands placed on them within the military culture. Through my studies, personal interactions, and professional experience with service personnel, I understand the stressors associated with this unique culture and how traditional masculine role narratives may influence the experience of mental health challenges.

The nature of military operations requires that men learn to suppress certain emotional responses (fear, disgust, etc.) to stay engaged in difficult or dangerous circumstances until the job has been completed. To prepare personnel for such service, values and behaviours associated with a traditional hyper-masculine gender role are reinforced for members in a stoic warrior culture of the military.

Although useful under operational conditions, this enculturation can inadvertently reinforce help-seeking avoidance and fear of stigmatization for service personnel coping with operational stress injuries or other mental health challenges. The need to maintain the appearance of stoic competence may make it more difficult for these clients to enter counselling.

Making counselling culturally safe for military clients calls for me to embrace the strengths inherent in traditional masculine gender roles and military cultural norms while helping clients break free of the code of silent stoicism that isolates them when they are in pain. By working together, we can rewrite the rules of military masculinity, to recognize the “battle for the heart and mind” through therapy is valid, courageous and a sign of strength.

Veterans may possess values and beliefs that run contrary to typical therapeutic models that rely on emotional self-disclosure and self-reflection. Different approaches and interventions are needed to address the issues, and developing an effective model to navigate these challenges ensures veterans seeking support receive adequate and appropriate therapeutic help. By capitalizing on adopted characteristics, such as the courage to engage in therapeutic work and mastery of one’s emotional experiences, we can work together to begin to engage and promote change for veteran clients.

Counselling helps the client uncover any self-defeating attitudes or behaviours contributing to the problem and directs the client to more healthy, appropriate responses.

Counselling for

Serving Personnel, Reservist Service families & Veterans

Coaching

As a coach, I help my clients discover their passions and determine how they can improve their lives by applying those skills in a career or relationship that aligns with their strengths and interests.

- Face to face

- Online

- Phone

How I would work with you

Feeling alone in a crowd is common. Struggling to be heard can be frustrating. Trying to meet others' expectations while feeling disconnected from your true self is a challenge. Recognizing that something is off without pinpointing the issue is unsettling. The journey to self-discovery, growth, change, and establishing meaningful relationships can be daunting.

I can assist you using a person-centred, humanistic, integrative, or creative approach. I will provide a non-judgmental space where you can express yourself freely, without seeking validation. This space is solely for you, allowing you to prioritize your needs over others. In this warm and secure environment, you can explore what truly matters to you.

COUNSELLING

Person - Centred Integrative Humanistic Creative

Person-Centred

Person-centred counselling is one of the humanistic modalities or approaches. It was founded in the 1940s by the American psychologist Carl Rogers who believed that, given the right conditions, a person can reach their full potential and become their true self, which he termed ‘self-actualisation’. This actualisation process is innate and accessible to everyone.

To help you achieve self-actualisation, the person-centred therapist will offer:

unconditional positive regard (UPR) – accepting and valuing you
congruence - being honest and transparent in how they experience you and your world
empathic understanding – seeing your viewpoint as if they were you

When you’re attending counselling sessions with a person-centred counsellor, you’ll be encouraged to bring your own issues to the session – the counselling is led by you and not directed by the counsellor.

Many clients, with no prior knowledge of counselling, believe that the counsellor will sort their problems out for them. A person-centred counsellor will help you to explore your own issues, feelings, beliefs, behaviour, and worldview, so you can become more self-aware and achieve greater independence.

Integrative

Integrative counselling is a combined approach to psychotherapy that brings together different elements of specific therapies.

Integrative therapists take the view that there is no single approach that can treat each client in all situations. Rather, each person needs to be considered as a whole and counselling techniques must be tailored to their individual needs and personal circumstances.

Humanistic

The humanistic approaches are based on the belief that we all naturally gravitate towards goodness. While of course, difficult life experiences may temporarily block our ability to reach our potential, with the right support, we all have the ability to achieve our goals.

A humanistic therapist will work to create a safe, supportive space where clients will be able to explore themselves and their potential, ultimately working towards developing their own personal growth - mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The humanistic approach emphasizes the personal worth of the individual, the centrality of human values, and the creative, active nature of human beings.

Creative

Creative arts therapies are based on the premise that when someone works creatively under the guidance of a qualified therapist, they become more expressive and communicative. This raises their awareness of issues and brings impetus for change. The creative work can involve therapy cards, music, art, movement, and other creative activities.

COACHING

What is Coaching? Coaching Vs Therapy 7 Benefits of Coaching Types of Coaching

What is Coaching?

A coach provides counselling and support to clients facing personal or professional challenges, helping them achieve their desired objectives. Coaches offer guidance in various aspects of individuals' lives, recognizing that everyone has unique goals. They commonly assist clients in personal and career-related matters, such as personal growth, work, relationships, health, divorce, grief, and financial well-being. At crucial junctures in life, whether triggered by a quarter-life crisis, existential pondering, significant career shifts, commitments, or fresh starts, a coach can offer valuable assistance.

Coaching vs Therapy

Coaching and therapy are not the same. They share similarities as both aim to enhance well-being, yet there are clear distinctions. Coaching concentrates on personal and professional growth, guiding clients to develop and implement effective strategies.

Coaching

Coaching is focused on personal growth and professional development
Coaching focuses on achieving goals, behaviour changes, shifting perspectives, and overall self-improvement
Coaches focus on sustainable, behaviour changes rooted in positive psychology

Therapy

Therapists are trained mental health professionals
Therapists have education and requirements to practice with clients
Therapists help you to understand your psychological patterns to change behaviour
Therapists can improve your mental health and emotional well-being through various techniques and therapy styles, like CBT, EMDR, and more