We are a small team of psychologists who have experience in treating addictions and mental health issues. We are trained in evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Certain values and philosophies guide our approach to psychological treatment. These can be summarised by three words – Meaning, Integrity, Growth.
Meaning
“In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning” – Viktor Frankl
The incidence of mental health diagnosis is increasing globally. You are not alone in experiencing pain and suffering. You aren’t alone in feeling that your emotions are out of control or that your personal or professional life is at the point of collapse. Viktor Frankl, psychiatrist and Auschwitz survivor, believed that suffering becomes bearable when we have a meaning. We hope to provide meaning of your symptoms and mental health conditions. We hope to help you find meaning for your struggles at work and at home. We believe that finding meaning will provide you with a lighthouse to guide you through life’s turbulent oceans.
Integrity
‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.’ – Aristotle
Are you your own worst enemy? For millennia, human ingenuity and evolution was directed toward fighting external enemies like cold, hunger and the dangers of nature. And we won. Now many of us are left with a far tougher adversary, ourselves. We often act impulsively, contrary to our long-term interests. We often tell our loved ones and ourselves, we will (or won’t) do something, only to let them down again and again. We often have competing and contradictory urges from day-to-day, even from hour to hour. We are often confused and disillusioned by ourselves, we lose faith in our ability to change.
Author Henry Miller said “I am my own worst enemy, but … I know too that I am my own saviour.” We believe that by aiming to be honest with yourself, you will clearly see the path forward to better days. We believe that aiming to be consistent and truthful with others, you will stand taller and walk with a truer step. We believe that by integrating your competing drives and modes, you can be your own best friend, calling off the battle within once and for all.
Growth
“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labour does the body.” ― Seneca
You may find yourself in a crisis right now. You may ask “what good can come of this?”. You may be saying “I want the old me back” or “I just want to get rid of this feeling”. We believe that most crises that occur in life are opportunities for growth. We believe that aspects of your external environment, or your lifestyle, or your beliefs and values were not working for you anymore, and thus you found yourself in this crisis. We believe that the suffering you are experiencing need not be in vain, and that this crisis represents an opportunity.
“The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die” said Nietzshe, “as well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.” Time moves only forward. The old you found its way to pain, suffering and crisis; we believe in working toward a new and better self.