"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, an poet must write if he is to be at ultimate peace with himself. What one can be, one must be." Maslow
My name is Lisa Laba Sarkis and I offer an online counselling service called Power of Mind – Private Online Counselling.
My qualifications are a Bachelor of Social Science Majoring in Applied Psychology Counselling and a Bachelor of Social Work. I am a Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (MAASW). My Membership Number is 208492. I have regular supervision as a private practitioner on a fortnightly basis.
I feel working online it is important to have a form of anonymity and privacy due to the nature of online counselling. When a client contacts me I send them an informed consent form and counselling contract. In this form I list my full name, qualifications and background. So before I start counselling online, the client knows my full details. I feel comfortable using this method and have had positive feedback for it.
Power of Mind Private Online Counselling is an established service for all ages that offers a convenient and suitable way of being able to log on to counselling sessions with an experienced Counsellor/ Social Worker through online communication. Power of Mind is a confidential online service to help individuals with a variety of issues including: Addiction, Eating Disorders, Grief and Loss, Anxiety, Depression, Home Bound Depression, Trauma, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, Family Difficulties, Children and Adolescent Issues etc.
Power of Mind uses Windows Live/MSN Messenger program to help individuals through private counselling interaction in a safe secure and professional manner. Confidentiality is very important and essential when counselling clients. Power of Mind is a highly confidential service and will always act in accordance to the social, legal and ethical issues.
The services I provide are Online Counselling, Skype Counselling and Email Counselling.
I work from a person centered/humanistic approach and I also use the cognitive behavioural approach depending on the issues at hand. I feel online counselling can help those individuals who are afraid to seek face to face counselling. Many people experience a sense of stigma or shame around issues. The opportunity for anonymous and confidential support online can help many people to feel safer and more in control when they communicate about their concerns.
There are a number of Advantages of Online Counselling:
The client is able to reflect / Re read communication - The process of writing down thoughts and feelings can be particularly powerful. For some, this can help to focus thoughts and concerns.
There is also an increased level of comfort as online counselling provides support with great ease through text based chat with a counsellor and eliminates feelings of embarrassment that comes with face to face counselling.
Online counselling is a simple and cost effective way of seeking counselling with a professional and there is no travelling time involved for the client.
