Mr Carl Conradi CCC, MSc, MBA, MA

In my view, counselling therapy represents an extraordinary opportunity to take stock of who you are and what you want at this particular moment in your life. What is it that you find yourself dwelling upon these days? Which emotions are most colouring your sense of self, and your relationships? What possibilities are – or are not – currently available to you? And most importantly, how will you make use of the answers that you uncover, to become more essentially and courageously yourself? These are some of the questions that we might explore if we begin working together.

My particular approach to counselling is highly relational, integrative, embodied, and non-pathologising. This means four things:

1. I believe that the supportive and radically non-judgmental bond that you and I will foster can itself serve as a safe testing ground for new ways of thinking, feeling, and being. After all, counselling is not just about achieving insight; it’s also about bringing that insight to life within your relationships, your work, your hobbies, and your community.

2. I don’t believe that there is any one “best” kind of counselling that will serve everybody equally. Instead, I draw upon several different therapeutic approaches - including existential, cognitive-behavioural (CBT), and psychodynamic – to support a bespoke process that is reflective of your innate individuality.

3. I believe that our emotions serve as the foundations of our consciousness. Indeed, unlike most other functions of our being, it’s impossible for our emotions to be unconscious: by definition, they must be felt – and it’s when we feel that we’re at our most conscious. This means that the body itself is an invaluable ally in the therapeutic process.

4. I believe that every psychological experience is of value – even those that feel confusing, embarrassing, frightening, or terrible. The mind is inherently self-protective, and when we suffer, it’s likely our mind’s way of signalling to us that we need to make a change. Counselling helps us to decipher our suffering, and to respond more openly to our mind’s call.

Challenges that I work with

Ageing Concerns

Alexithymia (i.e., Emotional Self-Awareness)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Anger Management

Behavioural Addiction

Bereavement

Chronic Pain

Consensual Non-Monogamy

Depression

Discrimination

Divorce

Eco Anxiety

Gender Identity

General Anxiety

Immigrant / Expat Challenges

LGBTQIA2S Identity

Life Transition and Change

Loneliness

Low Self-Esteem

Men's Issues

Military / Veteran / First Responder Mental Health

Moral Injury

Obsessive-Compulsiveness (OCD)

Positive Psychology / Personal Growth

Phobia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Relationship Difficulties

Sexual Difficulties

Social Anxiety

Spiritual/Existential Crisis

Work- or School-Related Stress

More about my Practice

As a counsellor, my preferred style of work is very exploratory, unstructured, and open-ended. Although I am equipped to provide tools or techniques where they might be useful – and to assign “homework” when it’s asked for – I do tend to keep sessions conversational, reflective, and tethered to the here-and-now.

I’d also characterise myself as being quite philosophical; I’m always interested to learn how clients bring their own meanings and values to the experience of everyday life.

Lastly, I’d say that I’m a counsellor who really celebrates humour, creativity, and playfulness in the therapeutic process, whenever it feels appropriate.

How often will we meet?

In the beginning, I find that it’s helpful to attend counselling once a week. This regularity helps me to learn how it is that you experience the world, and it helps you to keep your therapeutic work front of mind. Over time, you may wish to either extend your weekly session to 90 minutes, or to meet fortnightly or monthly.

In general, I find it challenging for most clients to gain therapeutic traction if they attend sessions any less often than once per fortnight. In this regard, counselling is a bit like going to the gym: if you jog or lift weights only once a month, you're simply not going to achieve good fitness. The mind - just like the body - must be tended to regularly, if it is to change.

How do you know if you are ready?

This is a very difficult – if not impossible – question to answer. What I can say is that I believe counselling is for everyone, no matter how big or small you feel your troubles to be. Indeed, counselling can also be tremendously helpful even when you’re feeling good, but are perhaps looking to experience life with a deeper sense of appreciation, confidence, and self-understanding. Counselling is not about “fixing” anything. It’s about learning how to draw strength from our emotions, to develop new and flexible ways of approaching challenging situations, and to roll with whatever punches life might throw at us.

By the same token, I do believe that you will find counselling to be of special benefit if you bring to it an attitude of honesty, humility, and experimentation.

Modalities in which I work

I'm an integrative counsellor, which means that I draw upon a number of different theories and techniques to facilitate therapeutic processes that are unique to each client. My main modalities are existential, cognitive-behavioural (CBT), and psychodynamic. However, I am also trained in trauma-sensitive therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ACT), and Gottman Couples Counselling.