Alicja Weidner

A conversation with Alicja Weidner

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  As a teenager I really enjoyed being with people, spending hours in conversations, getting to know others and myself. This love and interest in people led me to pursue further studies.
  
  Just prior to migrating to Australia in the early 80's, I applied to study psychology at Poznan University in Poland. The exam was tough and I did not pass my German test (which was a part of the exam), hence did not get in. After arriving in Australia with one luggage and limited English, I needed to wait some years before I could even contemplate any studies. Eventually 7 years after my arrival, I applied to study Bachelor of Social Work and was looking to pursue my passion for working with people. This time I choose social work over psychology because of the broader conceptual approach of seeing the individuals not only as products of their own thoughts, beliefs and behaviours but also in relation to broader social, systemic, economic and environmental factors. And like they say: 'The rest is history.'
  
  In 1994 I completed my Bachelor of Social Work and later in 1999 my Masters of Gerontology, both at the University of South Australia. Following my university studies, I worked for over 20 years in various government organisations, providing counselling, therapy, and managerial services. During that time, I stumbled across something, which at that time was not frequently used in therapy: guided visualisation techniques. It is amazing how well people are improving just by using their own ability to visualise scenarios and possibilities. I felt that with guided visualisation techniques and therapeutic story telling, I was able to really help people. And this was my first step toward fine-tuning my knowledge in various psychotherapeutic techniques.
  
  This knowledge was then expanded by further studies in clinical hypnotherapy, mindfulness, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. In 2016 I completed my Certificate in Clinical Hypno-Psychotherapy, which was followed by my Diploma in Hypno-Counselling. A year and a half later, after conducting over 500 hypnotherapy sessions, I become a Clinical Hypnotherapist and have developed a high level of expertise in this therapeutic modality.
  
  My professional working experience along with lifelong training in psychology, sociology, communication, and psychotherapy provided me with the knowledge, tools, and experience to support people, and inspired me to open my own therapy practice.
  
  In 2016 I founded my therapy business and over the years, it has slowly grown and it is now well established. Currently, there are five of us at H-L Therapy and we are passionate about supporting people in achieving their best potential.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Strength Perspective, Positive Psychology Humanistic Approaches, and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  Mental health, emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience, adulthood,

• What methods do you use?

  Meditations, therapeutic storytelling, artistic explorations (story writing, sounds, art, movement), guided visualisation, discussions, relaxation therapy, role plays, etc.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  This is different from one person to another and subject to individual situations. It also depends on how much the clients are reinforcing their learning from therapy sessions in between the sessions.
  
  On average, for smoking cessation 1 -2 sessions are often enough whilst for anxiety 4 -6 sessions may be sufficient. People with Intellectual, Developmental and Psychosocial Disabilities may take longer than low-intensity Medicare subsidised clients whose presentations are not as complex.
  
  It may be unrealistic to expect the resolution of a lifelong problem within one or two sessions. Not impossible though. Nevertheless, the commitment of some clients is often admirable, and if the clients are committed then the progress is also much faster.
  
  On average the progress should be seen in the third or fourth session but no promises or guarantees can be provided.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  I am happy and fulfilled because I am doing what is my real passion. I feel I make a difference in people's life - and one can not ask for a better reward.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  - Seeing people regain their confidence, improve, and become confident and self-assured.
  - Observing a big difference in the clients when compared to how they were in their first session.
  - Seeing people who previously struggled emotionally become stronger.
  When clients come to their therapy appointment, enter the room, and I can see the change. I can see that their face is transformed: that they smile, their skin has a different tone, and they look relaxed and more radiant. And I know that they are becoming better. It is a privilege to observe this.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Of course, I do. I am a human too.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  - Increasing rates of mental illness in Australia.
  - Social inequality and rising costs of living.
  

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  The adaptation of the story narrated in the Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley:
  
  'One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die.” The man laughed to himself and said, “Don't you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't make any difference!”
  After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said,
  “It makes a difference to that one.”'