- Rumi
Vanessa Potts
Counsellor, Psychotherapist
Inner Beacon Counselling and Psychotherapy
Cheltenham, VIC 3192
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
You may be struggling with a specific issue and have been for awhile. Or you may be going through a rough patch and are uncovering new and puzzling emotions. It's not uncommon to feel a little lost and isolated in your life, and unsure how to move forward. A life that was flowing forward well, may suddenly feel unsatisfactory or be transitioning into a new and challenging stage. Anxiety, depression, feelings of overwhelm or low self-esteem can be part of that experience. Using proven therapeutic techniques together we can understand what sits behind these emotions, how your previous experiences can be impacting your internal world and your relationships, and find a way forward to a more meaningful and balanced life. Using an integrative approach across Emotion-Focused, Focusing-Orientated, Person-Centred and ACT modalities I work at the pace you need to uncover what sits behind your current unrest.
Background
I spent twenty years working in the corporate world at a senior level both in Australia and the UK. I understand the stress and pressures life can bring both in the workplace and outside. I chose to retrain as a counsellor and psychotherapist when I paused and listened to my own feelings of dis-ease about my life's direction. The journey I have been on since has been quite remarkable.
Services
I offer a 15 minute free initial consult over the phone to help both you and I understand if we are a good fit for each other before committing to appointments. This helps me get a sense of what support you are seeking and if this is something I can help with and gives you a chance to ask any questions and get a feel for my style and if it suits you.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Cairnmillar Institute
- Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy - The Cairnmillar Institute
- Certificate in Executive Coaching - Institute of Coaching and Psychology, Sydney Uni
Modalities
ACT - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Focusing - Interpersonal - Person Centred
Therapy Approach
In life we frequently use our thoughts as the primary guide to our lives. Sometimes this results in suppressing core needs and emotions and can cause unease resulting in anxiety, depression or feelings of being lost or unconnected.
Emotion-focused therapy allows your emotions, rather than your thoughts, to guide us to what sits behind troubling feelings and using techniques such as chair work allows access to the deeper emotions to bring insight and relief.
Focusing-oriented therapy seeks to allow the often suppressed part of ourselves to have a voice and through accessing this part of the self, gain understanding of what the self wants and needs.
These modalities are integrated with person-centred techniques that empower you to heal.
Professional Associations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
Practice Locations
275 Bay Road
Cheltenham VIC 3192
The practice is at street level and there is parking outside the entrance.
Appointments
Appointments are available face to face Tuesday and Wednesday and Telehealth Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Fees & Insurance
There is an initial free 15 minute telephone consult. From there I offer 50 minute appointments. I cannot accept Medicare or Private Health Fund Rebates.
Contact Vanessa
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Vanessa Potts
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Having spent 20 years working in the corporate world and witnessing my own and other peoples struggles with mental health I went on a journey to understand more and from there a desire to share that knowledge and support others on their own individual journey.
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I am influenced by the humanistic philosophies that believe we are organic with the inherent ability to self-actualise and grow towards a healthy and healing self. I believe in empowering people to find this part of themselves and to be fully aware of their thoughts and their feelings equally.
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I have a belief that life can disrupt you at any moment. Sometimes it is linked to what happened in childhood and sometimes it's something unexpected that happens in current life. Key transition points that leave someone feeling lost or emotionally upset are messages from within asking you to pause and understand what is happening for you. These can be magnified by divorce, struggles with parenting, feeling lost in your career or your relationships, losing someone. Giving space and understanding to these messages helps bring relief from the painful feelings of depression, anxiety and more.
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In life we can allow our thoughts to dominate and suppress our emotional needs and wants. This can result in disquiet and unease taking the form of anxiety, depression and more. Emotion-Focused Therapy uses your emotions as the guide to what sits behind this disquiet and helps to access the deeper emotions and gain understanding from them, leading to relief. Techniques such as two chair work, empty chair work and unfolding help support this.
Focusing-Oriented Therapy encourages you to pause, reflect and understand the part of the self that is being suppressed. By giving it a voice the subconscious rises into the conscious and allows you to feel integrated and fully connected to all your emotions and thoughts.
Person-Centred therapy is based in the belief that the power to heal is a natural inclination that sits within all of us and that being in a space with an other (the therapist) who can support the process of understanding where the current pain comes from, helps achieve relief.
All my methods are centred in non-judgmental, empathetic and empowering practice. -
This is very hard to answer. Everyone is different and seeking different things from therapy. For some relief comes from the first conversation and the ability to share what is happening to them with a person who is non-judgemental and empathetic. For others it can be like waves, where an initial specific issue gains progress and then another issue emerges behind it that is connected and seeks relief.