Dowega Lewin-Mckinley Integrative Counsellor/Psychotherapist (Registered MBACP)

MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

I have counselled  from 2016 -2018 the bereaved within a Hospice setting as well as  counselled children in an educational setting experiencing the impact of family breakdown. Working as a freelance  Clinical Therapist  since early this year for a children's residential home also finds me supporting staff to work therapeutically with their young people. My journey however started 15 years ago in an informal fashion as a Registered Social Worker. There I worked with Young People and Adults. These roles brought great satisfaction, training, experience in group work and insight into the complex internal and external challenges we all can face. Having spent time listening to clients over the years, my passion to journey with them through their challenging times began to grow. Being a Social Worker did not permit the length of time with clients that was needed to make this possible.

It was from this frustration  that I re-trained as a Counsellor/Psychotherapist. This   enabled me to  consolidate and add to my learning and experiences. From this I also  fine turned my skills and techniques as well as gained more.

Becoming a counsellor was not without looking inwardly and experiencing  counselling myself. My change through therapy confirmed that change is possible if we want it.  This  makes me a therapist who has every confidence that you can do the same.

IS COUNSELLING FOR YOU?

After trying to manage every day challenges and frustrations without experiencing desired results, the chances are you are not here by coincidence and are possibly asking yourself this very question, “Is counselling for me?”

With the increasing amount of challenges that face us from day to day, I understand how normal it is to experience overwhelming feelings. I also connect to the strong feelings of shame, and pride that can stand in the way of seeking help.

HOW I WORK

I am an Integrative Therapist who combines Person Centred and Psychodynamic interventions when working with clients. This means I explore with clients what they are experiencing in the here and now, as well as past experiences. This can be very insightful and life changing when there is a connection to current patterns of relating.

I also use “Gestalt” and “CBT” techniques as well as meditations, positive affirmations and creative exercises. I find that these combined ways of working aid movement in the clients exploration of self, awareness and change. As a therapist, these approaches allow a holistic perspective to be taken, which enables the many layers of an individual to be seen. This too enhances the therapeutic relationship and makes the work valuable and worthwhile.

WHAT I OFFER INDIVIDUALS

• WHAT YOU BRING TO THE SESSION WILL ALWAYS BE THE FOCUS.
• I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE AND VALUE YOUR CHALLENGES AND EMPOWER YOU TO EXPERIENCE BREAKTHROUGH.
• I WILL STAY PRESENT WITH YOU WITHOUT BEING AFRAID TO JOURNEY INTO THE DEPTH OF YOUR CHALLENGES

As a good therapist I believe in your value as a human being and walk with you without judgement toward your desired outcomes. I show genuine interest, empathy and understanding of things from your core perspectives whether it be historical, cultural, religious or social. Working with diversity is of great interest to me and seeing the whole person is what will make you experience and understand your challenges on many levels.

You can expect to be accepted for you, which means you do not need to be anyone other than that. In fact it is your honesty that aids successful work. This way of being develops acceptance of self, as well as builds the ability to trust others. My acceptance of you may at times involve gentle non-judgemental challenging questions, which I must be honest in saying may be unsettling at times. Conversely this may also bring a deeper understanding of self, which will lead to a more self-governing lifestyle.