My name is Michala Wellington, I have been working as a counsellor/psychotherapist
for ten years. Following my degrees I trained in 'client centred
therapy , gestalt and 'CBT' (cognitive behavioural therapy),
as well as certificate courses in drama and art therapy. I
use an integrative approach, using whatever feels right for
the client, personality type and issue. Since joing the BACP
(British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy') I
regularly attend professional development courses to keep
myself updated on the latest techniques. I have worked as
a therapist in Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain and Hong
Kong.
This service works
for people in the yachting industry and specifically yacht crew.
I began to realize that the issues
that yacht crew were having were really quite specific and unrelated
to people who live structured shore based lives. In essence it is
a different world, or at least a different way of being.
I spend the year between the US, the Mediterranean
and the Caribbean so that I can see clients in face to face sessions
when the locations connect or when at sea via Skype doing on line
sessions. I find this method works well as it poses many options
depending on what feels right for you, we work out what is needed
for your individual issue. We generally will have met before and
a positive counseling relationship will have been formed. If for
whatever reason this isn’t possible we know we will meet in person,
although I have also had clients who prefer to work using a video
link. So we can be really open and flexible while still achieving
the goal of getting the results.
I also work in conjunction with owners on board
working towards resolving a whole range of issues from problems
with family interactions to communication issues. Although different
cases require different solutions my clients usually ask me to come
to whichever port is most convenient. I then discuss the client’s
requirements in greater detail and together we develop a plan of
action in terms of assessing the client’s needs and ascertaining
how frequently any prescribed therapy is needed. Most usually I
work with a client for a few days every few weeks. Of course the
time frame required is very much dependent on the issue to be addressed,
with addiction, for example, more intensive work is often required.
I shall be on board in the daytime according to the plan agreed
with the client on assessment. Yachting therapy works extremely
well as it works as therapy in a perfect environment and offers
a real chance to get help whilst being away from daily pressures
and having a chance to start anew.
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