Approach

Cornerstones
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Since ancient times, builders have used cornerstones in their construction projects. A cornerstone was the principal stone, usually placed at the corner of an edifice, to guide the workers in their course. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice. The Bible describes Jesus as the cornerstone that His church would be built upon. He is foundational. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it. As the cornerstone of the building of the church, Jesus is our standard of measure and alignment.

The four cornerstones:
1. Word of God
2. People are naturally creative, resourceful and whole
3. Whole person care
4. The counselling space

Approach
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Dr. Michele’s practice is built on four key cornerstones of which every aspect of the counselling process is influenced and guided making them central and foundational to the entire counselling process. These cornerstones distinguishes and guides Dr Michele in all her interactions with her clients by engaging, motivating and helping them experience lasting change and transformation from the inside out.

The first cornerstone 
Dr Michele ultimately relies on the love and power of God, making her point of departure the Word of God as the authoritative source for counselling in order to build the clients’ ability to tolerate and transform difficult experiences in the short- and long-term, encouraging awareness, mindfulness and self-compassion.

The second cornerstone
Her belief is that people are naturally creative, resourceful and whole. The core of this cornerstone is believing that each person has their own unique abilities and potential. People do not need “fixing” – it is therapy of positive power. It is about helping the client achieve optimal levels of functioning, despite their current hardships by relying on their own resources to grow through their suffering into sources of strength and well-being. The counselling encounter is thus about ‘being-with’, meeting people in their ‘being-function’ with deep concern and sincere empathy.

The third cornerstone 
Whole-person care is being present to and working with the whole person physical, emotional and spiritual. Created uniquely individual each person will manage their grief and loss in unique ways. Although everyone will experience losses in different forms and intensity it is a highly individual experience. Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone or something – a part in life that cannot be escaped may it be as a result of for example death, divorce or the loss of health – a job – pet – house – finances – retirement. A loss of emotions can be grieved as well such as the loss of approval, trust or safety. Grief stipulates conflicting feelings due to the end of or change in familiar routines working through the maze in finding a “new normal”.

The fourth cornerstone
The counselling space. The client will meet a counselling attitude that includes a gentle heart, gentle spirit, deep empathy, positive regard and humility. As a mindful counsellor awareness and acceptance, being non-judgmental, compassionate and flexible is crucial. Compassion stands central to the fourth cornerstone; in this regard it is not simply the ability to understand suffering of others but also have an intelligent understanding of the suffering linking it to knowledge of the causes and possible remedies thereof. There is no “one-size-fits-all” formula – it is being-with the client through their most painful moments. “I sat where they sat” (Ezekiel 3:15 KJV).