Mrs Melodina Thomas

A conversation with Melodina Thomas

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

  Counselling addresses fundamental aspects of human well-being, which I find exciting. It empowers individuals to overcome challenges, achieve personal growth, and lead more fulfilling lives. The impact of counselling extends beyond the individual client, benefiting families, communities, and society.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Several philosophical approaches have significantly influenced the field of counselling and have shaped both professional and personal development in this domain. One is this philosophy - it emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility. Existentialist ideas have contributed to understanding the importance of choice, meaning-making, and exploring one's purpose.

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

  The term "human journey" typically refers to the collective experiences, challenges, and growth that individuals go through throughout their lives. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, both positive and negative, and often involves personal development, self-discovery, and learning. The human journey can include various aspects, such as:
  
  Physical Development: This involves the changes in the body from birth to adulthood, including growth, maturation, and aging.
  
  Emotional and Psychological Growth: This pertains to developing emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and coping with and understanding one's emotions.
  
  Intellectual and Cognitive Development: This encompasses the growth of knowledge, critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and intellectual capacities.
  
  Social and Interpersonal Relationships: This involves learning to navigate and form meaningful connections with others, including family, friends, romantic partners, and colleagues.
  
  Spiritual and Existential Exploration: Many individuals seek meaning, purpose, and a sense of belonging in the broader context of existence.
  
  Life Transitions and Challenges: The human journey includes various life events and transitions such as education, career changes, marriage, parenting, loss, and aging.
  
  Personal Goals and Aspirations: This refers to setting and striving towards individual goals, whether they are related to career, personal development, hobbies, or other areas of life.
  
  Overcoming Adversity: The human journey often involves facing and overcoming challenges, adversity, and obstacles that may arise along the way.
  
  Cultural and Societal Context: The human journey is also influenced by cultural norms, societal expectations, and historical events that shape individual experiences.
  
  It's important to note that the human journey is a unique and individualized experience for each person, shaped by their background, experiences, and personal beliefs. It is a continuous process of growth, self-discovery, and adaptation to life's various stages and circumstances.

• What methods do you use?

  Narrative therapy, Compassion therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, Emotion-focused therapy, Gestalt therapy, etc. I often integrate elements from various methods and modalities depending on the client's unique needs and preferences. The effectiveness of a counselling approach can vary depending on the individual willingness to change and their specific circumstances.

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

  The client will not be able to see any progress unless they invest time and thought to their own journey or process. If they invest their whole selves and genuinely want to see the change it can happen right from the first session. I believe coming to counselling itself has ignited some unknown change in the client.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  The study in counselling is in itself a catalyst for therapy. My whole counselling journey has been reflective and more so after delving into my inner most being. There is a sense of awareness which was absent in my life.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  To be instrumental in a client's journey or life story and equipped with the knowledge and skills to help people address a wide range of emotional, psychological, and behavioural issues excites me.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  "Yes" I do because I am not perfect.

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

  Rejection and fear
  We grapple with two issues daily and use different means and ways to fight against them. Some cope with it better, others require insight, and they manage. Still, others are overwhelmed and fail to overcome and seek help.

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

  The Bible has many stories of love, loss, life, death, hopelessness, wisdom, victory, hope and faith and so many life lessons.