Starting counselling can feel like a big step. Many people are unsure what will actually happen in sessions or how the process works. While every person’s journey is unique, counselling often moves through several broad stages that help create a safe, supportive and meaningful process for change. In approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), […]
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Who’s Driving Your Bus?
Who’s Driving Your Bus? – An ACT Metaphor for Life In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we often use simple metaphors to explain big ideas. One of the most helpful is the Driver of the Bus metaphor. Imagine your life is like a bus journey. You are the driver. The bus is heading in the direction of what matters […]
Which Counselling Format Is Right for You?
Face-to-Face, Online or Telephone Counselling: Which Is Right for You? When starting counselling, one of the first choices you’ll make is how you’d like to attend your sessions. Sunny Coast Counselling offer counselling sessions via face-to-face, online (via video), or over the phone. Each option has its own benefits and challenges, and the “right” choice depends on […]
Why We Use Metaphors in ACT Therapy
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), you might notice we use stories and images rather than just talking in technical terms. You may hear about things like passengers on a bus, tug-of-war with a monster, or leaves floating down a stream. This isn’t to be clever or confusing — it’s because metaphors help people understand their inner world […]
Could Someone You Love Benefit from Counselling?
It can be hard to know when to suggest counselling to someone you care about. You might notice they seem different lately — more withdrawn, stressed, or unhappy — and wonder if extra support could help. Counselling isn’t only for people in crisis. It can help anyone who feels overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to […]
EAP Post-Incident Support
Why Post-Incident Counselling Support Is Essential After a Critical Workplace Incident A critical incident in the workplace — such as a serious accident, sudden death, violence, or traumatic event — doesn’t just affect operations. It affects people. Even when the immediate physical risks are managed, the emotional and psychological impact on staff can linger long […]
Why Rest Isn’t a Luxury — It’s Essential
Many of us equate rest with laziness or see it as something we’ll get to “once everything else is done.” In Sacred Rest, Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith gently but firmly challenges this idea. She argues that rest is not a pampering add-on, but a biological and emotional necessity — one every person needs to live fully, cope […]
The Gottman Golden Ratio: Why It Matters for Healthy Relationships
If you’ve ever wondered why some couples seem to stay close and connected even through tough times, while others get stuck in cycles of blame or distance, one of the most helpful tools we have comes from the work of Drs John and Julie Gottman. Their research has identified a simple but powerful pattern that […]
Transactional Analysis: A Simple Framework for Better Communication
Transactional Analysis (often called TA) is a practical psychological model that helps us understand why we communicate the way we do—and how small shifts can make our interactions calmer, clearer, and more connected. Developed by psychiatrist Eric Berne, TA suggests that we all move between three “ego states” in everyday conversations: 1. Parent This is the part […]
Book Summary: Plain Life by Antonia Pont
Antonia Pont’s Plain Life: On Thinking, Feeling and Deciding is a thoughtful, grounded exploration of what it means to live well—not in a grand, performative, or productivity-driven sense, but in a steady, attentive, deeply human way. For counselling clients, especially those navigating stress, decision-making, emotional overwhelm or the pressures of “getting life right,” Pont’s writing offers a […]