Individual counselling
Panda provides individual counselling services using an integrated approach. An integrated approach means that Panda does not subscribe to one psychological practice or framework, instead employing an approach that matches the person sitting opposite them. Some of the frameworks Panda is drawn to (in no particular order) include :
play therapy (including art based work)
mindfulness
archetypal psychology
somatic approaches
of interest - research suggests that the therapeutic relationship/alliance alone accounts of a large portion of how effective therapeutic interventions are, not the therapeutic approach(Defining and delivering effective counselling and psychotherapy, Lawrie Moloney, CFCA Paper No. 38 — March 2016)
Panda is also beginning their training journey with internal family systems therapy along with somatic approaches to therapy.
Panda deeply acknowledges the healing nature of the therapeutic relationship (the relationship between yourself and the therapist). As with any relationship, the quality of the connection is important, and often the strongest predictor of whether sessions will be helpful for people. For this reason, Panda encourages some reasonable shopping around in order to find the right therapist. Panda will never be offended if the sessions they provide are not a suitable fit.
Sessions are 50-60 mins in length and may include anything from talking, to art, analogies, breathing, homework for in between sessions, to cards and symbol work or listening to parts of your body. For some people the 60 minute session length does not meet their processing needs. And why should it! It was created for billing purposes with insurance and does not reflect the diversity of how we experience therapeutic environments. For this reason Panda offers additional time for people who need more flexibility with session timing. Additional time can be requested in 30 minute increments. Please see What it Costs for more information.
Panda offers counselling services for a range of life experiences, including but not limited to: family of origin difficulties, gender journeys, grief and loss, living under capitalism and neoliberalism, surviving big T and little t traumas, sexuality, systemic harms and processing diagnosis. Panda also provides support with our human responses developed in order to process these life experiences, such as: anxiety, depression, ptsd, masking, suicidality, substance use, self harm, disconnection, isolation, negative self beliefs and the avoiding of feelings or emotions.
Counselling sessions with Panda will attempt to challenge the individualism present in counselling psychology, while also honouring the inherent safety that the 1:1 therapeutic relationship provides. If you are interested in reading more about the ethos of this value, please click here.