Bronwyn Lenyszyn Australian Counselling Association

Chronic pain, including autoimmune diseases, can significantly impact a person’s emotional and psychological well-being, often leading to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and depression. My approach to managing chronic pain includes the following: Pain Management: Techniques like mindfulness and relaxation to cope. CBT for Pain: Addressing negative thought patterns. Lifestyle Adjustments: Creating routines that balance activity and rest. Support: Offering a compassionate space for express

Anxiety can disrupt daily life. My approach involves: CBT: Altering negative thought patterns to reduce anxiety. Mindfulness: Practices to stay grounded and reduce symptoms. Exposure Therapy: Gradual exposure to anxiety triggers for improved coping. DBT: Building emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Personalised Coping: Tailoring techniques to individual anxiety triggers.

Family conflict often stems from communication issues or stress. My approach includes: Family Systems Therapy: Understanding family dynamics and conflict roots. Communication Training: Teaching effective, empathetic communication. Conflict Resolution: Developing constructive strategies for dispute resolution. Emotional Regulation: Helping family members manage emotions during conflicts. Empathy: Encouraging understanding and stronger family bonds.

DBT helps manage intense emotions, improve emotional regulation, and enhance coping skills. I use techniques from DBT such as: Mindfulness: Staying present and aware of emotions without judgment. Distress Tolerance: Techniques like "TIPP" (Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, Paired Muscle Relaxation) to manage intense emotions. Radical Acceptance: Accepting reality as it is to reduce emotional suffering.

CBT helps identify and change negative thought patterns that affect emotions and behaviours. It’s useful for anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues. I use techniques from CBT such as: Thought Records: Tracking negative thoughts and replacing them with more realistic ones. Cognitive Restructuring: Challenging unhelpful beliefs and thoughts. Behavioural Activation: Encouraging activities that improve mood and reduce avoidance.

SFT is a goal-oriented approach that focuses on solutions, not problems. It helps clients move forward by emphasising their strengths and what’s working. I use techniques from SFT such as: Miracle Question: Imagining a future where the problem is solved to inspire solutions. Exception-Seeking: Identifying times when the problem doesn’t occur to find what works. Scaling: Rating progress to track improvement. Compliments: Reinforcing strengths to build confidence.