APPROACHES & MODALITIES

  Ms. Brierley works with individuals, couples and families, groups, she offers

 a wide range of services, depending on the presenting issues: 

Stress;  Anxiety;  Panic Attacks; Post Traumatic Stress/Neglect

Co-Dependency; Individuation; Attachment; Abandonment

 Depression; Grief, Loss and Bereavement

Parenting; Caregiving;  Aging; Mid-Life Crisis

Anger;  Fear; Suicide, Sleep issues,

Chronic Pain; Health Issues; Creativity

 Forgiveness; Guilt; Jealousy; Shame; Life purpose

 Phobias;  Compulsive Behaviors 

Self-Care; Rejection;  Self-Esteem

Sexual Assault; Abuse

Due to Shelley's breath of experience as both a Psychotherapist and Supervisor, she takes an eclectic approach to counselling therapy and supervision, utilizing a number of different approaches depending upon whom she is dealing with and learning style serves her clients best. 

Some of the modalities she incorporates are: 

      Family Systems Theory                               Mindfulness

    Perceptual Control Theory                            Dream Work

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy                          Meditation

            Gestalt Therapy                                 Conflict Resolution

             Hypnotherapy                                        Reality Therapy

Grief and Loss Work 

Method of Levels Approach

Adult Children of Alcoholics work

Inner Child work

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

Shelley's utilizes a variety of  approaches including: relational, systems, psycho-educational and therapeutic.  A key aspect of Ms. Brierley’s format is incorporating a process she developed,  called ‘Positive Future Framing,'  which invites students to identify hoped for outcomes.  Once identified, she supports clients in bringing to awareness, their current patterns of behavior, then assisting students in aligning their core beliefs, values and behaviors by inviting them to self-evaluate the same, as it relates to their identified outcomes. The focus is forward and choice oriented; one of Shelley’s most common phrases, over the years is, “You only have choice when you have awareness.” reflects her practice and belief that once individuals are aware of their present behaviors, she can then assisting them in evaluating their perceptions, recognizing their patterns of behavior,  supporting them in developing realistic short and long-term plans. This provides the option for the individual to act intentionally, in awareness, moving forward toward their identified outcomes,

 claiming their full potential. 

 
Ms. Brierley believes in both Personal and Social Responsibility.  Internal Locus of Control, founded up an understanding of internal motivation, is the basic premise of Perceptual Control Theory. In her role as Facilitator, Shelley utilizes personal awareness and self-evaluation, (both  critical for success in counselling and therapy)  encouraging clients to focus their energy toward making the changes they’ve identified toward greater personal responsibility for that which they have control over.   

As an Educator, Ms. Brierley believes in setting people for success. She teaches skills and strategies to support individuals in gaining and maintaining balance which can continue even after counselling is complete, with the goal of independence and interdependence; her definition of long-term success.

Shelley’s Hallmarks: 

Personal and Social Responsibility 

A focus on Wellness, Strengths, Wants, Needs, Success 

Defining Core Beliefs 

Clarifying Values

Setting Limits and Respecting Boundaries

Kindness and Self Acceptance

Utilizing awareness of Past Patterns to understand Present Patterns & Behaviors

Focusing on the Present, with an eye to creating hoped for Future Outcomes 

Considering a variety of Perceptions

Awareness of Patterns, Behaviors, and Choices

Challenging Awareness of what one actually has Control Over 

Broadening Frames of Reference

Self-Evaluation

Short and Long Term Planning

 
To empower individuals with a new frame of reference and perspective, from which to consider their own behaviors, Shelley teaches her clients Perceptual Control Theory, a means of empowering individuals to have a means of understanding the behavior of all living things, which then assists them in understanding themselves and others, allowing them to more abley and effectively meet their needs.

 
As well, Ms. Brierley frequently teaches a simplified version of PCT which she developed, “The Short Hand of Needs,”  which addresses the needs to be: loving, playful, powerful, free, surviving and honoring spirit.  This information provides a practical and concrete means from which individuals can  self-evaluate behaviors which support them in strengthening their self-confidence, self-esteem, and personal balance.

Gaining a brief family history, Ms. Brierley often invites individuals to consider family patterns, identifying and confronting faulty core beliefs, faulty programming and repeated unhealthy patterns. Insight creates new awareness, laying the groundwork for the individuals to choose more effective core beliefs, identifying and enacting behaviors which reflect the same. The process outlined above allows individuals to gradually move toward their hoped for chosen outcomes; the creation of their future life path.

"That which is to burn bright must be able to endure the flame."  -  Viktor Frankl

Painting by:  Patsy Vangolen, "The Journey"