Understanding the Types of Counselling Approaches with Tara J Clarke at Cairns Northern Beaches (Palm Cove)

Author: By Tara J Clarke, Counsellor in Cairns

Location: Cairns Northern Beaches, Palm Cove

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 Understanding the Many Approaches to Counselling at Signs of Abundance Counselling with Tara J Clarke

Counselling is a deeply personal journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. At Signs of Abundance Counselling, Hypnosis and Healing, I, Tara J Clarke, believe that the most effective counselling happens when the approach matches the unique needs, goals, and personality of each client. Different types of counselling approaches offer different tools and perspectives, and often, I blend multiple styles to provide the best support possible.

This blog is designed to introduce you to some of the main counselling approaches I use in my practice. While there are many more types beyond these, these are the ones I find most helpful and frequently use. Learning about the different types of counselling approaches can help you feel more informed and comfortable about the counselling process.

Below are some of the main types of counselling approaches I commonly use within my counselling practice.

Person-Centered Counselling

Developed by Carl Rogers (1957), person-centered counselling is all about creating a warm, accepting, and non-judgmental space. The focus is on empathy and truly hearing you as you are. This approach is excellent if you want to feel deeply listened to and understood without pressure to change immediately. It’s often the first step in building trust and rapport. For example, if a client comes in feeling overwhelmed and just needs to be heard, person-centered counselling provides that safe space for self-discovery and emotional relief (Rogers, 1992; Joseph, 2020).

As therapy progresses, this foundation can support other approaches, such as narrative therapy, where you can begin to explore and reframe your life stories.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented approach that helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours (Beck, 2011; Hofmann & Hayes, 2019). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is also known well as CBT. CBT  is effective for managing anxiety, depression, stress, fears, and bad habits such as smoking, over-eating or fear of spiders and snakes. For instance, if you struggle with negative self-talk or phobias, CBT offers practical techniques to challenge those thoughts and develop healthier thinking and behavioural patterns. This approach is particularly useful when you want clear strategies and tools to change specific behaviours or ways of thinking.

Solution-Focused Therapy

This approach is future-focused and practical. Rather than spending much time analysing the past, it helps you recognise your strengths and focus on solutions and achievable goals (de Shazer, 1985; Franklin et al., 2019). For example, if you want brief counselling to make a specific change, such as improving confidence or coping with a current problem, solution-focused therapy can be empowering and motivating.

Psychodynamic Counselling

Rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud and others, psychodynamic counselling explores how unconscious patterns and early life experiences affect your current emotions and behaviours (Shedler, 2010; Lemma, 2018). This deeper approach is helpful if you want to understand the root causes of longstanding issues or emotional difficulties.

For example, if you find yourself repeating harmful relationship patterns or experiencing unresolved emotional pain, psychodynamic work can illuminate these hidden influences and promote lasting healing.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

Mindfulness involves being present and aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment (Kabat-Zinn, 2003; Crane et al., 2021). These approaches teach grounding, breathing, and awareness techniques that can reduce stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm. They are especially helpful if you struggle with feeling “stuck” in worries or intense emotions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy combines mindfulness with commitment to personal values (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999; Harris, 2019). It supports accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on actions that align with what matters most to you. ACT is useful if you want to develop psychological flexibility and live a more meaningful life despite challenges.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy helps you separate yourself from your problems by exploring the stories you tell about your life (White & Epston, 1990; Denborough, 2019). This approach encourages you to re-author your story, highlighting strengths and new possibilities. It’s a wonderful approach if you want to feel empowered to change your perspective and identity.

For example, after building rapport with person-centred counselling, narrative therapy can help you rewrite the narrative you hold about yourself, moving from “I am broken” to “I am resilient.”

Gestalt-Informed Therapy

Gestalt Therapy focuses on present awareness, emotions, and taking responsibility for your experiences (Perls, 1969; Wheeler & Axelsson, 2021). It helps you understand patterns in your relationships and reactions. This approach is useful if you want to explore your immediate feelings and interactions in a more experiential way.

Trauma-Informed Counselling

Trauma-informed counselling recognises how trauma affects the nervous system, emotions, and relationships (Harris & Fallot, 2001; SAMHSA, 2020). It prioritises emotional safety, trust, and pacing. If you have experienced trauma, this gentle, respectful approach supports healing without retraumatization.

Somatic-Informed Therapy

This approach explores the mind-body connection, using body awareness, grounding, breathwork, and nervous system regulation to support emotional healing (Ogden, 2015; Payne, Levine, & Crane-Godreau, 2019). It is especially helpful if trauma or emotional distress shows up as physical tension or dysregulation.

Grief and Loss Counselling

This supports you through bereavement, separation, or significant life transitions (Worden, 2009; Neimeyer, 2019). It helps you process loss in your own time and find ways to move forward.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy uses focused relaxation and guided attention to support changes in habits, fears, confidence, and emotional patterns (Elkins, 2017; Yapko, 2021). It can be a powerful tool alongside counselling for behavioural and emotional change.

Integrative or Holistic Counselling

At Signs of Abundance, I often use an integrative approach, combining elements from several different types of counselling approaches tailored to your unique needs (Norcross & Goldfried, 2005; Norcross & Lambert, 2019). For example: If you’re new to counselling and want to feel heard first, we start with person-centred counselling to build trust.

If you want to retell and reshape your life story, we may move into narrative therapy.

If you want to understand deeper emotional roots, psychodynamic counselling can help.

If you need practical steps to manage anxiety or stress, CBT or mindfulness might be best.

For trauma-related challenges, trauma-informed and somatic-informed approaches ensure you feel safe and supported.

The “best” counselling approach is the one that fits you, your unique story, and what you want to achieve.

Conclusion

Counselling is a flexible, client-focused journey. At Signs of Abundance, I am committed to adapting my approach to meet you where you are, using the best tools and theories available. Whether you want a safe space to be heard, practical strategies to change, or deep exploration of your past, I am here to support you every step of the way. Whether you goal is to overcome anxiety, depression, grief, fear, trauma or a curve ball life has thrown in your way, understanding the different types of counselling approaches available can help you choose a counselling style that feels safe, supportive, and aligned with your goals.

If you have questions about which approach might suit you best, please feel free to reach out. Together, we can find a path that fosters your growth, healing, and well-being.

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References

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Crane, R. S., Brewer, J., Feldman, C., Kabat-Zinn, J., Santorelli, S., Williams, J. M. G., & Kuyken, W. (2021). What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft. Psychological Medicine, 51(13), 2188–2195.

de Shazer, S. (1985). Keys to solution in brief therapy. Norton.

Denborough, D. (2019). Do you want to hear a story? Adventures in collective narrative practice. Dulwich Centre Publications.

Elkins, G. R. (2017). Medical hypnosis primer: Clinical and research evidence. Springer.

Franklin, C., Zhang, A., Froerer, A., & Johnson, S. (2019). Solution focused brief therapy: A systematic review and meta-summary of process research. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 45(1), 92–111.

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Harris, M., & Fallot, R. D. (2001). Using trauma theory to design service systems. Jossey-Bass.

Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press.

Hofmann, S. G., & Hayes, S. C. (2019). The future of intervention science: Process-based therapy. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(1), 37–50.

Joseph, S. (2020). Person-centred therapy with children and young people. PCCS Books.

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Ogden, P. (2015). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment. Norton.

Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2019). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1816.

Perls, F. S. (1969). Gestalt therapy verbatim. Real People Press.

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Wheeler, G., & Axelsson, L. (2021). Gestalt therapy. American Psychological Association.

Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief counseling and grief therapy (4th ed.). Springer.

Yapko, M. D. (2021). Trancework: An introduction to the practice of clinical hypnosis (6th ed.). Routledge.