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Month: February 2025

How to Encourage Your Loved Ones to Seek Counselling in Australia

Posted on by Prath
  • Published on 28 February 2025

Does your friend or family member struggle with mental health issues? If so, they may benefit from counselling in Australia. 

Watching a loved one go through mental difficulties may be the most distressing thing. Any help we provide, including advice, may not be enough to cope with the issue. At this point, we are usually left feeling helpless but desperate to eliminate our loved ones’ problems.  

However, there are some things you can do to ensure that your loved one does not spiral or worsen their symptoms. One of these is encouraging them to seek counselling in Australia.  

While not everyone may feel comfortable opening up to people they know closely, talking to a mental health professional is different. Counsellors offer non-judgemental and unconditional support and help develop a personalised therapeutic plan to improve the client’s emotional and mental well-being.  

In this article, let’s explore some of the things you can do to encourage your loved ones to seek counselling in Australia.  

This Article Contains:

1) Providing Emotional Support

Before anything else, showing your support and love to the person suffering is important.  

Immediately suggesting counselling may sometimes have the opposite effect. Seeking help can take time, and your loved ones can experience positive counselling outcomes only if they are not rushed to make a decision. 

Providing emotional support could mean: 

  • Talking things through with them regarding their issues and what’s troubling them 
  • Offering to help with daily chores such as cooking or cleaning the house 
  • Suggesting to go out for a fresh walk together 
  • Trying to talk about their problems without pushing or forcing them to be honest 

Offer a safe and silent space to your loved one. Make them feel comfortable, offer to pour some tea, and try to have a relaxed conversation. The most important thing to consider is the person’s comfort. Everything else may take time and can be done gradually.  

2) Offering Unconditional Support

Once you are aware that your loved one is struggling with mental health issues, try to offer unconditional support and love.  

‘Unconditional’ means that you are willing to support someone without any conditions.  

For example, some people may hesitate to talk about what’s truly bothering them. In such cases, instead of pestering them to discuss the issue, you may have to acknowledge their struggles.  

The key to remember is that offering a safe space is more important than satisfying our curiosity about the issue. We may be curious for several reasons. Knowing the issue can help us offer specific solutions. Or we may know support groups if we have more details about what our loved one is struggling with.  

However, what the person in distress needs the most at the current moment is unconditional support. The first step is to always let them know you’re with them – whether or not you know their problems.  

Friends offering unconditional support to seek counselling in Australia.

3) Initiating Conversations With Compassion

At this stage, you should gradually initiate conversations with your loved one. You can ask about what’s troubling them, what emotions they’re feeling, and how you can be of help.  

However, you may want to initiate every single conversation with compassion. Try asking open-ended questions rather than giving advice or direct solutions that you think might work.  

Open-ended questions usually start with: 

  • What (is troubling you at the moment?) 
  • Why (do you look distressed?) 
  • How (can I help you?) 

Rather than suggesting specific key points, always try to keep your questions as open as possible.  

For example,  

“Are you stressed because of work?” is suggestive, as you’re hinting that their issues are work-related stress. The person may find it hard to shift to the actual problem.  

Try asking: 

“You look like you’re struggling with something. Do you want to talk about it?” 

Tip: Use “I” statements to initiate conversations. For example, try saying, “I’m concerned about you. I have a suggestion that might help.” 

The core of your conversation should be empathy and compassion.  

4) Being Specific

Sometimes, your loved one may not be aware of their mental health issues or may not realise that they need to talk to a counsellor in Australia.  

When you mention this to someone, their initial reaction may be dismissive. They may say, “I don’t feel any different” or “Nothing is wrong with me,” as they may be in a defensive mode.  

To avoid triggering their defensiveness, be specific when you’re initiating conversations.  

Try to observe and share any difference in their current behaviour compared to their former habits.  

Communicate in a non-judgmental way. Try saying: 

“I noticed you are not eating well these days.” 

“I’ve perceived a change in your sleeping habits. I see you’ve been getting only a few hours of sleep daily.” 

Bring up significant changes that are specific and measurable. Notice some common patterns in sleep, food habits, mood swings, tones, and behaviours.  

5) Helping Them Find Counselling in Australia

You can’t force anyone, but you can definitely encourage someone to seek counselling in Australia.  

One way to encourage your loved one is to do all the hard work. This includes researching offline and online counselling, shortlisting private counsellors, and gathering resources to prepare the person for their first counselling session.  

To do so, try going through our diverse and well-qualified group of counsellors in Australia. You can watch their introductory videos, read their full descriptions, and review their therapeutic appraoches.  

Even if you’re unsure what issue your loved one may be facing, it can be helpful to have a list of counsellors to begin with.  

Shortlisting professionals based on gender, counselling style, personality, or a general list of issues can also be helpful. Anything that can give your loved one a starting point can be a huge way to encourage them to seek support.  

6) Preparing for Resistance

Every person is different. Even after your strong encouragement, some people may need time to consider, while others may want to personally research before starting their counselling journey. Some may not even be open to the idea of seeking professional counselling.  

Be prepared for all types of resistance. Your role as someone who cares is to provide encouragement and unconditional support.  

Try to be open-minded and listen actively to their objections. If you’ve previously been to counselling or know its benefits, try bringing up these points.  

Reducing your loved one’s apprehensions about seeking support may take a few conversations. Ensure your loved one knows that counselling is a private space solely focused on their personal and mental journey.  

If your loved one is too resistant, it’s usually best to stop insisting. If they’re open but still hesitant, you can slowly discuss the topic in many different ways.  

For example, share articles or videos about counselling, explain why you think counselling can help, and give them the idea that their first session can be a trial.  

Conclusion

Encouraging a loved one to seek counselling in Australia can be an act of love and compassion. It is hard to convince someone to talk to a counsellor, but your effort shows how much you care for them and the lengths you’re willing to go to provide your support.  

When your intentions are right, and you’ve prepared yourself in advance, you may be more likely to help your loved ones seek support. 

Remember to have all conversations with empathy. Try not to force or firmly push someone to make a decision. The choice of seeking professional support is an entirely personal one.  

If the person is angry with you, don’t worry. Love can take many forms, and it sometimes helps you face the hard truth of reality. Try to be as gentle as possible, but do not give up providing personal support if someone is unwilling to seek counselling. 

5 Common Questions Counsellors Ask During Counselling Sessions

Posted on by Prath
  • Published on 28 February 2025

Opening up and being your true self during counselling sessions is one of the hardest aspects of seeking professional support. But it’s this honesty that will lead to change.  

If you’ve never been to counselling before, the entire process may seem vague to you. What happens during a session? Who talks first? What are the solutions? What questions should you answer? 

The several different questions you have in mind can overwhelm you. After all, how can one seek professional counselling without knowing what it is about?  

Counselling services are all about structured and healing conversations with a goal in mind. 

To achieve individual goals, the counsellor may ask their clients several open-ended and closed-ended questions. Through this process of dialogue exchange and evidence-based approach, the client can make positive changes in their lives.  

In this article, let’s look into the 6 common questions counsellors may ask during counselling sessions.  

This Article Contains:

Types of Counselling Questions

A combination of open-ended and close-ended questions is asked during counselling sessions to arrive at the crux of the problem. 

Both types of questions may have advantages and disadvantages. While close-ended questions can address a client’s specific emotions, open-ended questions are generally used to understand the root cause of a problem and arrive at a solution. 

The main difference between both types is that open-ended questions are used during sessions to encourage clients to think deeply about an aspect of their life and gain control of the conversation.  

In contrast, close-ended questions require the client to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – which may help when someone feels stuck or unable to articulate their emotions further. 

Let’s look into the two types of questioning.  

1) Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions allow clients to pause, reflect on their thoughts, and answer honestly. While this type of questioning encourages the client to focus on a specific aspect, counsellors may also guide the client to delve into other areas of life if they need to retain the natural flow of the conversation.  

For example, consider the following questions: 

Do you like your job?  

Tell me about your experience at work. 

While both these questions focus on the same topic, the first one is close-ended, while the second one is open-ended.  

With the first question, the client may answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and the conversation may stop abruptly. However, with the second question, the client may talk deeply about their work experience while mentioning other aspects such as confidence or self-esteem.  

Common ways an open-ended question can start include: 

  • Who  
  • When 
  • Why 
  • What 
  • Where 
  • How 

2) Closed-Ended Questions

Close-ended questions have only one option: yes or no.  

These types of questions can clarify certain aspects of the conversations. Counsellors may also use close-ended questions to help the clients ease into the counselling session or use it as a breaker after exploring some deep-rooted issues.  

However, if counsellors in Australia ask excessive yes-or-no questions, the client may feel like they’re being interrogated.  

Hence, professionals are usually careful about the type of questions they ask to engage clients.  

Sometimes, the counsellor may start with a close-ended question, such as “Do you like your job?” and then rearrange it to a more open-ended one, such as “Tell me more about our experience at work.” 

Questions You May Be Asked During Counselling Sessions

Every counsellor is different, as are the services and approaches they use.  

While some may ask the standard questions, such as ” What can I help you with?” during the first counselling session, others may prefer to get to know the client and their life experiences before discussing their current problems.  

However, all counsellors may ask a set of questions to better understand your counselling goals and background.  

Most of these questions may also differ depending on the type of counsellor you’re seeing (eg, couples or family counsellor) and the type of counselling service.  

1) What Do You Expect From Counselling?

Some people may seek counselling in Australia, assuming they will be advised to solve their problems. Others may look for direct solutions to resolve conflicts.  

Professional counselling is much more nuanced and scientific. Hence, counsellors may ask what you expect from sessions to help: 

  • Set expectations for future sessions 
  • Provide psychoeducation before starting your counselling journey 
  • Establish counselling style and goals 

Based on your expectations, the counsellor may proceed to develop a personalised therapeutic plan.

Discussions between the counsellor and client during a counselling session.

2) What Do You Think the Problem Is?

The next set of questions usually revolves around your presenting problems and issues you’re facing in life.  

Talking about your issues can seem complex: Where do you even start? What if your problem is not a specific thing but has more to do with your feelings and thoughts?  

Your counsellor may urge you to discuss your problem and how you feel about it to help you understand yourself and build more self-awareness. During this process, you may also be encouraged to come up with solutions that you think may work best.  

This question can help you reflect on your life from a deeper perspective and reinforce the idea that counselling is all about change and that change takes time.  

Some specific questions that your counsellor may ask include: 

  • How do you view the problem? 
  • Which areas of life do your problems affect you the most?  
  • What is the biggest issue you’re currently facing?  
  • Have you already tried applying any solution or self-help techniques to solve the problem? What worked and what didn’t?  

3) How does this problem typically make you feel?

An important aspect of counselling is building rapport and connecting with the client’s emotions. Counsellors ask about your feelings and problems to validate you and provide unconditional support.  

There is never a right or wrong way to feel about any problem. Whatever you feel can give the professional an insight into your thoughts and emotional patterns and develop a more personalised treatment plan.  

Sometimes, you may find it hard to articulate your emotions. This question can help you dig further and identify positive and negative feelings. Counsellors may help you achieve this through several evidence-based therapeutic approaches, like emotionally focused therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy.  

Some specific questions a counsellor may ask during this process include: 

  • How do you feel when similar problems pop up in your life?  
  • Do you feel upset or angry? And why? How do these emotions urge you to behave?  
  • Do you typically cry when you are upset?  
  • How do you cope with your emotions?  
  • What else do you feel when you think about the problem? 

4) Have You Been in Counselling Sessions Before?

If you’ve been to counselling sessions before, your counsellor may ask you to discuss them based on your comfort level. 

What worked during your previous sessions and what didn’t can help the professional gain valuable insight into your preferences.  

Moreover, if you’ve had a bad experience before or are already aware of triggers that may heighten your symptoms, mentioning it to your counsellor at this point can hugely benefit you and the counsellor. 

Some counsellors may also have notes that they can share with your current counsellor. Exchanging counsellor notes can help you resume sessions with more insight and clarity. 

5) How Would You Describe Your Mood?

Unlike emotions, which are fleeting, your moods can represent the underlying patterns you’re stuck in and the daily cycles of energy.  

Your counsellor in Australia may ask you about your mood swings to gain insight into your stress levels and habits.  

In more cases, when we’re overwhelmed by tiredness, we tend to resort to self-destructive habits to cope. Hence, talking about this during counselling sessions can help the professional develop a substantially effective plan that offers you mental and physical relief. 

Some specific questions your counsellor may ask include: 

  • Is your mood steady, or do you experience a rollercoaster of emotions? 
  • What activities energise you, and what activities bring down your energy levels?  
  • What makes you feel blue? 
  • How do you usually react to irritations or frustrations?  
  • What do you do when you feel bad or upset?  

Conclusion

Knowing what questions to expect during counselling in Australia might ease some of your worries in preparation for your first counselling session.  

Remember that each counsellor is different and may not ask all the questions mentioned in this article. Sometimes, the questions may be phrased differently or follow a different structure.  

The key is to remember that most questions are open-ended and focus on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour patterns.  

If you’re not comfortable answering any questions, feel free to let your counsellor know about it. Ultimately, your answers to these questions are helpful. Still, your hesitancy of not sharing some information can also provide insight into your problems and the type of approaches that might help you overcome them.  

What Happens In A Counselling Session? 5 Stages To Know

Posted on by Prath
  • Published on 21 February 2025

Counselling sessions lead to change. And this is the ultimate goal of mental health support.  

The process begins with understanding an individual’s thought patterns, lifestyle, habits, and values.  

Through consistent and high-quality support, the client may: 

  • Start thinking clearly and from a fresh perspective 
  • Begin to resolve conflicts effectively 
  • Imporve their overall well-being 

You may already know the benefits of counselling. But what exactly happens in a session? Is it just a dialogue exchange? Or a magical conversation that fixes everything?  

The answer is neither. Let’s explore the exact details and stages of a counselling session and what you can expect from them.  

This Article Contains:

Understanding the Counselling Process

The counselling process may look different for everyone – but it follows some fundamental principles. 

For example, all counsellors in Malaysia are trained to: 

  • Listen actively (eg through non-verbal communication, paraphrasing, reflecting on the client’s presenting problems etc) 
  • Provide non-judgemental and unconditional support – This means that regardless of the problems that the client may bring up, the counsellor responds from a place of empathy  
  • Ask targeted questions to explore the client’s life in depth 

Besides the above key practices, each counsellor has their own style of therapy. Some therapists may provide a structured and organised conversation, while others may use a free-flow approach to dig into issues.  

There’s never a right or wrong therapeutic approach; it’s just what feels right for you.  

Some elements involved in most types of counselling are: 

  • Discussing your goals, needs, and requirements of therapy  
  • Exploring your thoughts, feelings, and habits and understanding the patterns that are harming you 
  • Developing a personalised therapeutic plan based on what feels comfortable for you 
  • Setting achievable and realistic goals and tracking progress in therapy 
  • Learning how to implement therapeutic skills in real-life 
  • Discussing the duration, frequency, and termination of counselling sessions 
A counsellor discussing goals with the client.

What to Expect in a Counselling Session

Your first counselling session could be considered a mutual interview. Sometimes, it is also known as an intake session. 

The idea of an ‘intake’ is to set expectations, get to know each other, and build rapport and trust with your counsellor.  

At this point of the session, it is your chance to see if the professional is the right fit for you. You can choose to look for someone else if you struggle to relate with the counsellor.  

After the initial introductions, your counsellor may enquire about: 

  • Your goals for counselling 
  • Presenting problems that may be affecting your daily life 
  • Different aspects of your life, such as relationships, work, family, or academia 
  • Your childhood experiences that have significantly left an impression on you 
  • Your current lifestyle and energy levels 

What Your Counsellor Will Cover

After getting to know you, the professional may also take the chance to explain about their: 

  • Professional qualifications 
  • Their confidential policy 
  • Therapy approach and style 
  • Specialisations  
  • Experiences working with people struggling with issues similar to yours 
  • Suggestions on duration and frequency of counselling 

The first session can feel scary. However, counsellors are trained professionals who will be aware of your apprehensions.  

If you feel stuck or are unsure what to talk about, your counsellor will take you through the session and ease you into it. 

Before you book your session, let’s look into the 5 stages of counselling services.  

The Stages of the Counselling Process

Through the stages of counselling sessions, the professional will help you move from where you are to where you want to be.  

Inciting sustainable change takes a solid framework – all the way from initial engagement to termination. These five stages are essential for experiencing a successful counselling outcome. 

Although these stages are personalised based on the client’s needs, there are some overarching steps that all counsellors may use. In this section, we will examine these steps.  

Stage One: Relationship Building

The counselling sessions begin with the most important element: establishing a relationship, also formally referred to as a therapeutic alliance.  

Stage one focuses on the counsellor building rapport with you and trying to understand all the issues you want to address.  

Below are some aspects you may discuss during this stage: 

  • Expectations for future counselling sessions 
  • Goal setting 
  • Personalising therapeutic approach 

Developing a safe and healthy alliance builds a strong foundation, ultimately leading to positive therapy outcomes.  

Stage Two: Problem Assessment

Once the therapeutic alliance is established, the professional may focus on assessing your problems.  

In this stage, you may be expected to: 

  • Share your current feelings and reflections 
  • Talk about your problems in depth 
  • Bring up all the topics you wish to discuss during your therapeutic journey 
  • Reflect on all areas of life 

The counsellor may carefully listen and provide their clinical impressions on what issue they may be facing and how to resolve it.  

However, by discussing how to resolve the issues, counsellors may expand on their counselling strategies rather than provide you with direct answers. This is because you are the best judge of your life. 

Tips to Open Up During Counselling Services

The problem assessment stage may occur in the 2nd or 3rd counselling session. Hence, try to journal your thoughts and reflections well in advance.  

At TYHO, you can sign up and use our Journal & Notes feature to track your mood and thoughts and use prompts to reflect on all areas of your life.  

Knowing what you want to seek help with can reduce your nervousness and allow you to set the pace of counselling.  

Stage 3: Goal Setting

During this stage, your counsellor will work with you collaboratively to develop therapy goals.  

“Once a goal is formulated and selected by a problem solver, it is likely to be rehearsed in the working memory and stored in long-term memory. A goal encoded in this way, then, becomes a major heuristic for the problem solver as he or she interacts with the environment”  

– Dixon and Glover 

Effective counselling is when you set goals and a baseline to track your progress.  

Your baseline is when you first start counselling. Hence, maintain a journal on how you felt before therapy, as you can use that information to measure your growth and personal development after learning therapeutic skills.  

Stage 4: Counselling Intervention

The counselling intervention stage is when the counsellor develops a personalised therapeutic plan.  

The therapeutic plan will serve as a roadmap for addressing your mental health issues and helping you achieve the changes you want to see in your life.  

Depending on the counsellor’s style, the plan may outline: 

  • Counselling homework and progress 
  • Measurements to track progress 

Stage 5: Evaluation

During the last stage, the counsellor may either evaluate your progress or discuss termination if you’re ready to move on from counselling.  

Planning well in advance for termination can lead to a positive experience. Counsellors may also brief you about important aspects of ending counselling. Some of these include: 

  • Reaching an agreement on how and when counselling will end. For some people, reaching an end may mean successfully achieving all of their therapy goals. For others, it could mean having received a satisfactory amount of skills they can use. Your goals may differ from other people.  
  • Reevaluating if any problem needs to be addressed further or exploring other changes that can be made through counselling. For example, suppose you’ve already achieved your therapy goals, but would still like to attend sessions once a month to focus on habit-building or personal development. In that case, you can discuss this during this counselling stage.  

Remember that honest communication is vital for all stages of counselling.  

Conclusion

Counselling services can bring out the much-need change in your life.  

While each counsellor’s approach and style may vary, they may all follow the same structure and stages of counselling.  

Try to be as honest as possible during all the stages of counselling. Being proactive and intentional during counselling can result in changes sooner.  

No matter the type of counselling service, a collaborative approach and consistency are required to experience therapeutic success.  

Review our diverse group of counsellors to book a counselling session. We provide a detailed guide on how to get started on our platform. Investing in your mental health is worth the effort!  

How a Culturally Competent Therapist Can Improve Your Mental Health

Posted on by Prath
  • Published on 18 February 2025

Australia is culturally diverse. Research from 2021 shows that more than half of Australians have a parent born overseas.  

But how does this data connect with mental health?  

Migrating or moving to a different cultural space is often overwhelming. Your experiences as a migrant may completely differ from someone else’s. In fact, even growing up in different families in the same country may impact each individual differently.  

Regardless of your ethnic background, you may want to talk to a therapist who truly understands you – including your beliefs, values, lifestyle, and, of course, your cultural roots.  

To cater to these differences that we may all have, therapists in Australia actively seek to increase their cultural competency through training and self-reflection. 

In this article, let’s explore the benefits of a culturally sensitive therapist and learn some simple steps for finding one. 

This Article Contains:

What Is Cultural Competence in Therapy?

Culturally competent therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on: 

  • Understanding a client’s cultural background and belief system 
  • Understanding how a client’s lifestyle relates to their ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, and gender 

Therapists in Australia who are competent in this area have a nuanced understanding of complex issues like oppression and microaggressions (ie subtle intentional or unintentional prejudice against a person or community). 

Mental health therapists are also trained to observe when a client is truly authentic.  

For example, some people may subconsciously alter their accents to fit into a specific cultural space. Most times, this subtle change occurs due to deep-rooted experiences like discrimination.  

Cultural competency involves more than just race. A therapist must also address aspects such as: 

  • Age 
  • Disabilities 
  • Indigenous heritage 
  • Ethnicity 
  • Language-related barries 
  • Socioeconomic status 
  • Religious & spiritual beliefs 
  • Neurodiversity 
  • Regional & community rituals 
Culturally diverse group of Australians.

How a Therapist’s Cultural Sensitivity Impacts Their Approach

Think about this: Would a teenager prefer to talk to a therapist who dismisses their problems as not being ‘adult’ enough? They likely wouldn’t.  

While therapists may have foundational training that should prevent them from dismissing any issues, sometimes, the therapist-client fit may just not be right. For this reason, a client may not feel validated.  

Firstly, being culturally sensitive strongly impacts how long a client may stay in therapy and the depth of benefits they gain from it. 

Secondly, a therapist who understands a client’s cultural background develops a solid therapeutic alliance. This alliance has a direct link to experiencing positive therapy outcomes.  

Lastly, a culturally competent therapist can develop approaches that best fit a client’s specific cultural needs.  

Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO) Therapists can help with several types of anxiety issues. You are not alone.

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Benefits of Cultural Competence in Therapy

Cultural competence in therapy strongly emphasises helping an individual improve their strengths, skills, and capabilities within a specific context.  

Culturally focused therapy may also help clients: 

  • Handle challenges by allowing them to rely on their personal values 
  • Increase their sense of empowerment  

A therapist and client work together as a team. Seek support for various mental health issues today.  

Rather than address mental health issues from a general perspective, therapists provide a holistic approach. This involves the integration of a person’s: 

  • Skills 
  • Weaknesses 
  • Strengths 
  • Vulnerabilities 

Therapists in Australia also recognise that everybody is unique and that two clients from the same cultural background may still have different values and preferences. 

Hence, the professional may ask specific questions to determine which modalities suit a particular client. 

What to Expect From a Culturally Competent Therapist?

A culturally competent therapist is an expert in providing the most inclusive and sensitive care.  

A therapist and client may not necessarily have the same background. What’s more important is that the therapist is aware of these cultural differences and considers the client’s unique experiences during therapy.  

However, a culturally competent therapist may also be skilled at recognising when they are not the right fit for their client. In these cases, the therapist must direct the client to another professional who may better be able to provide the appropriate support.  

Sometimes, the client’s cultural background may also affect their choice of therapy.  

For example, someone from a collectivist culture (ie one that focuses on community) may prefer to explore cultural stories and shared experiences, for which narrative therapy might be the best fit.  

In contrast, someone from an individualist culture may prefer cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).  

What you can expect from a culturally competent therapist is that they consider all the above factors and tailor their approach based on your preferences.  

An Australian therapist talking to a client during a therapy session.

Finding a Therapist for You

It’s important to find a therapist in Australia who understands you as an individual and as a member of your culture.  

If you are looking to talk to a therapist, you need to ask yourself this question: 

How do I find the right therapist?  

The fit with your mental health therapist is so important.  

To explore the answer to your question, identify if the therapist is curious to learn about your cultural experiences. Are they willing to discuss your cultural needs?  

But what exactly is culture? It is different for everybody. For example, if you are an Australian expat and you’re working with a therapist with no exposure to that culture, it might be challenging to explain yourself.  

Hence, before you do anything else, try to identify your most important cultural identities and experiences.  

What identities do you want to explore deeper in therapy? Once you figure this out, ask your therapist if they can work on this with you.  

In the section below, let’s look into some other practical things you can do to find a culturally competent therapist.  

1. Doing Research

Your first step should be to do secondary research. Ask family, friends, or acquaintances for recommendations on therapists.  

If you already know how to find a professional, research online to find someone who meets your needs.  

Contact us at [email protected] with any information you find important to share, and we will be happy to help with TYHO Therapist recommendations.  

2. Asking Questions

Sometimes, even after finding a mental health therapist, you may have to ask them several questions to gauge the fit and check your comfort level. 

Below are some questions to ask: 

  • Are you familiar with my culture, beliefs, and values?  
  • Do you have experience working with people who have cultural backgrounds similar to mine? 
  • Have you had cultural competence training?  
  • Do you plan to focus on cultural aspects in therapy sessions?  

3. Being Proactive

In therapy, being proactive means putting yourself out there – yes, while being fully transparent and authentic.  

We know it’s hard. However, we also know that being transparent in therapy is worth it. 

During the initial few sessions, try to share as much information as possible about your: 

  • Cultural background 
  • Cultural experiences 
  • Views and beliefs on various aspects, including mental health 
  • Family dynamics 
  • Upbringing 
  • Personal values and goals in the specific context of culture 

Tip: It is helpful to journal your thoughts well in advance. Sometimes, it’s normal to forget important details when you first meet with a therapist.  

Conclusion

Cultural competency can help both the client and the therapist. A therapist’s awareness of cultural and individual differences can result in productive and positive outcomes.  

To find a culturally competent therapist, try asking around for recommendations, ask questions to gauge the fit, and stay proactive during and after the therapy sessions.  

If you want to talk to a Therapist in Australia, consider reviewing our diverse team of Therapists. TYHO Therapists are culturally competent and non-judgemental. 

If you’re struggling to find someone who aligns with your needs, reach out to us for guidance and support.   

Everything You Need to Know About TYHO Therapists in Australia

Posted on by Prath
  • Published on 7 February 2025

At Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), we understand that everyone’s path towards emotional wellness is unique.  

Whether you’ve already booked a session with a therapist in Australia or are looking to research more about therapy, it’s important to make a decision that best fits your needs.  

Before we get into the article, let’s break a common myth about therapy:  

Therapy does not require you to toughen up and conquer your fears. 

Rather, it’s about digging deeper into your feelings and understanding how they manifest in the first place.  

Only when we understand the foundational concept of therapy can we truly benefit from its life-changing impact.  

Are you ready to book a session? To help you with that, let’s explore TYHO Therapists’ qualifications and specialisations and discuss how to start investing time and care in your mental well-being. 

This Article Contains:

Qualifications of a Mental Health Therapist

We use the term ‘Therapists’ in Australia to refer to all mental health practitioners, including psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists.  

All therapists on our platform have the right credentials. We conduct a strict screening process to ensure they have a minimum master’s degree.  

Apart from having the right educational background, it’s important that Therapists in Australia have a solid set of essential skills to provide the most effective support to their clients.  

The core skill that makes a great Therapist is their ability to form a strong alliance with their client.  

Therefore, we are mindful of the fact that TYHO Therapists have the competencies to support clients to: 

  • Lead a fulfilling life 
  • Reach their therapy goals  
  • Overcome the stress of modern life 
  • Expand their perspective of themselves and the world 

Therapists Aligning with TYHO Values

At TYHO, we carefully create our team of Therapists who have undertaken substantial professional training.  

We hold high standards and make sure all mental health Therapists align with our values. Our values include:  

  • Dedication 
  • Honesty 
  • Uncompromising on Quality 

Different Types of Therapy Services at TYHO

Over the years, many different types of therapy have been developed through research. All these approaches can either be short-term or long-term and differ based on the client’s presenting problems and preferences.  

Although there are a plethora of options available, you may have to choose the service that will benefit you the most.  

Rest assured that all our therapy services are evidence-based and are provided through clinical expertise.  

A helpful place to start is researching the basic types of therapy services.  

1. Individual Therapy

From the outset of individual therapy, you and your Therapist will work together to improve your skills, reach your goals, and tackle problems that may cause you mental distress.  

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life. – Shannon L. Alder” 

During this type of therapy at TYHO, you may have one-on-one therapeutic conversations with a mental health professional. 

Sessions focus on developing 4 therapeutic elements:  

  • Therapeutic alliance: Your Therapist may use skills to build rapport with you and develop a strong bond that will make you feel safe and comfortable.  
  • Therapeutic plan: The professional develops a working plan – a set of hypotheses of your personality, presenting problems, and key aspects of how you think, feel, and behave.  
  • Interventions: After a few initial sessions, you and your Therapist will agree on preliminary statements of therapy goals and skills that you may wish to develop. 
  • Framework: The Therapist briefs you on how therapy works and reaches a mutual decision on the frequency, duration, and medium of therapy.  

You may benefit the most from individual therapy at TYHO if you: 

  • Want to solve personal issues 
  • Want to try in-person or online therapy initially before venturing into couples therapy 
Therapist and client talking during individual therapy.

Issues You Can Seek Help For

Individual therapy in Australia can help you with: 

  • Anxiety, depression, or mood swings 
  • Low self-esteem or confidence 
  • Chronic stress (personal or work-related) 
  • Manage intense emotions like anger and grief 
  • Habit change 
  • Life transitions 
  • Self-love and trust issues 
  • People-pleasing tendencies 
  • Guilt and shame 

2. Couples & Marriage Therapy

Before anything else: relationship therapy is not individual therapy with two people.  

Instead, it focuses on interpersonal dynamics to improve the behavioural and emotional patterns between the couple. This applies to partners who are married or unmarried! 

Talking to a TYHO Therapist as a couple can help you and your partner become aware of how you contribute to conflicts and learn tools to resolve them in a healthy way.  

Importantly, the Therapist helps you develop an emotionally intelligent marriage.  

But what does that look like?  

Couples or marriage Therapists in Australia help build upon: 

  • High levels of trust and loyalty to maintain the bond 
  • Both of your capacity to resolve conflicts and arguments 
  • A purpose that keeps you and your partner happy and fulfilled 

Focusing on these aspects rather than trying to ‘change’ your spouse or partner is a sign of an emotionally intelligent marriage. 

Issues You Can Seek Help For

Relationship therapy in Australia can help you with: 

  • Communication problems 
  • Healing from breakup 
  • Trust issues or dealing with infidelity 
  • Financial or family pressure 
  • Lack of self-esteem in a relationship 
  • Physical and emotional intimacy issues 

3. Family Therapy

If you’re struggling with issues in your family – like feelings of disappointment or anger with your parents or arguments with your sibling – family therapy might benefit you.  

At TYHO, we provide an avenue for safe and collective healing for many issues.  

In most cases, communication (or the lack thereof) is a foundational aspect of family relationships that is often overlooked. 

We assume we know how to express our feelings. However, since family members are often aware of each other’s weaknesses, they may subconsciously use this unique information in hurtful ways when communicating. 

During in-person or online therapy in Australia, family members can learn how to: 

  • Listen actively and understand each other’s perspective 
  • Build emotional trust and improve general levels of communication 
  • Focus on encouraging good behaviour among each other through positive reinforcement 
  • Communicate without relying on a defensive reaction 
  • Improve body language and adopt a gentler approach when talking to each other 

At TYHO, you can book online sessions from any location.  

For example, you can attend the session from work during online therapy, while your spouse or children can attend the call from other locations, such as their home.  

Issues You Can Seek Help For

Family therapy at TYHO can help you with: 

  • Misunderstandings and conflicts 
  • Intergenerational trauma 
  • Parental stress 
  • Major life transitions 
  • Grief and loss 
  • Parent-child conflicts 

Booking a Session With a TYHO Therapist in Australia

If you’re ready to start therapy in Australia, congratulations!  

We recommend going through all TYHO Therapist profiles to find someone who truly understands you.  

It’s important to make a personal investment in therapy to gain the maximum benefits – and this involves looking for the right Therapist.  

While finding someone may take some time, it’s truly worth the effort. Going through client reviews, watching introductory videos that are available on our platform, and researching the Therapists’ personal and professional backgrounds can be a good start.  

Once you have a shortlist of therapists, book an initial session to check your comfort level. 

You may have found the right fit if you feel comfortable and safe during the first few sessions.  

When choosing a Therapist, you’re investing in your mental well-being. So, the professional needs to be someone you trust and can grow with.  

Key Takeaways

  • TYHO Therapists are well-qualified to provide the right and effective support to improve your mental well-being.  
  • We offer different services like individual, couples, marriage, and family therapy.  
  • Therapy can not only help with mental disorders but can also help you develop a strong sense of self and teach you tools to deal with daily life stressors.  

4 Practical Skills You Can Learn in Online Therapy

Posted on by Prath
  • Published on 6 February 2025

Online therapy is not as scary as one might think. Sessions are full of exercises, metaphors, emotional revelations, and role plays.  

Your therapist in Australia will use experiential learning and analogies to help you discover the key skills to improving your emotional well-being.  

To build these skills, you may draw on the collective thought process from a therapeutic and personal angle, along with the professional.  

But before you continue reading, we want to let you in on a secret:  

Learning therapeutic skills is hard mental work. But this work is what makes healing possible. And this work is what makes growth and change possible.  

To this end, we want to share 4 practical skills you may learn in online therapy and how these skills can help you live and thrive in your life.  

This Article Contains:

4 Skills You’ll Pick Up in Online Therapy

Online therapy in Australia can help you learn skills to handle issues that may arise in many and almost all areas of life.  

But these issues occur only when you have a mental disorder, right? Not quite.  

Unlike commonly believed, mental health therapists don’t just address disorders, but they can also help you: 

  • Cope with high levels of anxiety or stress  
  • Understand more about your own needs and goals (for example, do you yearn to create a life for yourself where you’re truly happy but don’t know what that even looks like?) 
  • Overcome relationship issues  
  • Overcome attachment issues (for example, are you nervous about replying to your friend’s rant, so you find it easier to disappear for days at a stretch? You’re not alone. Most people with an avoidant attachment usually withdraw from the situation to avoid any discomfort.) 
  • Manage your thoughts, emotions and behavioural patterns, especially if they harm you  

So, yes, you can seek therapy to address various issues. You may also learn some core skills that can help you apply them to your daily life if you ever decide to stop or pause therapy in Australia.  

Let’s explore the skills learned in therapy that will serve you throughout your life.  

A client learning life skills during online therapy.

1) Self-Compassion

Many situations or experiences in life can cause someone to think lowly of themselves or engage in a painful cycle of negative self-talk.  

For example, being a perfectionist is an increasingly particular issue that many young adults face. The reason for this is likely due to how easy it is to compare ourselves to others through immediate access to modern technologies like social media.  

The more you compare, the harder you are on yourself -> resulting in a lack of self-compassion.  

During online therapy, you may learn that although you are not perfect, you are truly worthy and needed just for who you are at this moment.  

This skill is so essential that just a few minutes of self-compassion can produce real change, especially when you feel low or insecure.  

Moreover, your online therapist will equip you with tools like writing a compassionate letter to yourself or catching your critical self.  

Cognitive behavioural and emotionally focused therapy are commonly used approaches to helping you build compassion.  

“Self-compassion is a practice of goodwill, not good feelings… With self-compassion we mindfully accept that the moment is painful, and embrace ourselves with kindness and care in response, remembering that imperfection is part of the shared human experience.” 

(Neff, 2019) 

2) Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is a skill you may learn during online therapy to: 

  • Take proactive steps towards personal growth by understanding your beliefs and values 
  • Identify the emotional triggers that can affect your mood or energy 
  • See any situation in life from an objective perspective 
  • Stay productive even when you feel tired, and define productivity and worthiness based on your subjective measurements rather than systemic demands 
  • Experience feelings of pride and contentment in yourself and the work you do  
  • Make better decisions that are aligned with your value system 

Self-awareness is such a powerful tool that, when learned during therapy in Australia, can result in impactful change.  

While your friends may give you several tips and advice on how to break a habit, they wouldn’t know why you rely on them in the first place.  

However, an online therapist may use scientific tools to explore your core values and assess your self-esteem to bring awareness to: 

  • Why these habits are harmful for you 
  • The reason you rely on these habits 
  • What change you may experience when you break the harmful habits 

Tips to Increase Your Self-Awareness

  • Track everything you can. Journaling is a foundational tool for increasing self-awareness. Jot down whatever thoughts you think are important. When did they occur? Did they make you feel happy or anxious? How did you react? 
  • Introspect. This can be helpful when you’re doing it from a place of fact-finding goal rather than an emotional activity. Imagine you are watching yourself as a third person, and write down the facts of how you’re behaving or feeling.  
  • Talk to a friend for unbiased opinions on your strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, having an outside perspective can give you a better picture of yourself and can overcome the blind spots that you may miss during introspection.  

3) Conflict-Resolution

Conflict is a normal aspect of any healthy relationship – be it romantic or platonic.  

After all, we can’t always agree with our partner or friend on everything. But sometimes, these arguments can get out of hand. 

The idea is not to avoid conflicts altogether but to learn how to solve them healthily. 

By talking to a therapist in online therapy, you may learn conflict resolution skills to: 

  • Manage your feelings and learn how to stay calm even when you feel emotionally triggered 
  • Communicate in a healthy way, especially without hurting yourself or others and avoiding saying things that you may regret later 
  • Pay attention to your emotions, the other person’s reactions and the thoughts being expressed 
  • Respect individual differences and resolve a problem faster by finding a middle ground  

During online therapy in Australia, the mental health therapist may use two core techniques to teach you this skill. 

a. Stress Relief

Your therapist will help you learn to relieve stress during a heated moment, which will become the key to having a balanced and focused conversation. 

With this skill, you may learn how to: 

  • Read the other person’s body language and actively listen to what they’re actually saying 
  • Be in touch with your core values and communicate your needs in an articulate way 

b. Emotional Awareness

Gaining emotional awareness can help you understand yourself and others better.  

For example, if you don’t know that you are disappointed that your partner didn’t inform you about their work trip, you will not know how to communicate with them. 

Instead, you may express anger and use phrases like, “Why did you do that?” or “Do you not care about me?” 

Through effective online therapy, however, you can: 

  • Identify what emotion you’re feeling and why 
  • Express your feelings in a way that actually reaches the other person 

4) Emotional Regulation

Having and maintaining emotions make us healthy humans.  

Emotions connect us with other people, drive us to take action in our lives, and protect us from danger.  

However, for many people, identifying these emotions is difficult, let alone trying to regulate them. This is especially true for people who may have childhood trauma or any persistent or chronic stress.  

The good news is that you can learn tools during therapy services to improve your emotional regulation.  

Your therapist may use techniques such as cognitive reappraisal (ie changing how you think/feel) or dialectical behavioural therapy.  

Through professional support, you can: 

  • Disengage from the intensity of your feeling 
  • Interrupt the negative thought patterns (eg being critical of yourself when you’re feeling low) 
  • Respond to the situation adaptively and without letting your emotions make decisions 
  • Focus on reframing your negative thoughts when faced with a challenging situation 
  • Communicate your emotions calmly and assertively 
  • Take actionable steps to address your emotions instead of fretting about them 

Conclusion

Therapy in Australia can teach you essential tools to improve your mental and emotional wellness.  

The 4 primary skills you may learn during sessions include self-compassion, self-awareness, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation.  

Whether you’re struggling with issues in your relationship or work, therapeutic exercises can help you manage your emotions more effectively.   

TYHO Therapists are well-qualified to equip you with the core life skills mentioned in the article. If you’re ready to get started, find a therapist who best understands you!