APPROACHES & MODALITIES

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

 a wide range of services, depending on presenting issues: 

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

Dependency; Individuation; Attachment; Abandonment

 Depression; Grief, Loss and Bereavement

Parenting; Caregiving;  Aging; Mid-Life Crisis

Anger;  Fear; Suicide

Chronic Pain; Health Issues; Creativity

 Forgiveness; Guilt; Jealousy; Shame; Life purpose

 Phobias;  Compulsive Behaviours 

Self-Care; Rejection;  Self-Esteem

Sexual Assault; Abuse

Due to Shelley’s breadth of experience she takes an eclectic approach to counselling therapy 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 Behavioural Therapy                          Meditation

            Gestalt Therapy                                 Conflict Resolution

             Hypnotherapy                                        Reality Therapy

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 behaviour. Her role evolves to one of assisting students in aligning their core beliefs, values and behaviours 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.” Once individuals are aware of their present behaviours, Shelley then works with students to assist them in evaluating their perceptions, recognizing their patterns of behaviour while supporting them in developing realistic short and long-term plans. This allows the individual to act intentionally, in awareness, moving forward toward their identified outcomes, claiming their full potential. 

 
Ms. Brierley believes in Personal Responsibility.  Internal Locus of Control, founded on understanding internal motivation, is a basic premise of Perceptual Control Theory. In her role as Facilitator, Shelley utilizes personal awareness and self-evaluation (both critical for successful counselling therapy) to encourage clients to focus their energy toward making the changes they’ve identified.  

As an Educator, Ms. Brierley believes in setting people for success. She teaches skills and strategies to support individuals in gaining and maintaining balance, (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

Utilizing awareness of Past Patterns to understand Present Patterns & Behaviours

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

Considering a variety of Perceptions

Awareness of Patterns, Behaviours, and Choices

Challenging Awareness of what one actually has Control Over 

Self-Evaluation

Short and Long Term Planning

 
To empower individuals to have a new frame of reference from which to consider their own behaviours, from a new and different perspective, Shelley  teaches clients Perceptual Control Theory to empower individuals in having a means of understanding the behaviour of all living things, which then assists students in understanding themselves and others, so they are more able to more 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 honouring spirit.  This information provides a more practical and concrete means from which individuals can  self-evaluate behaviours that  supports them in strengthening their self-confidence, self-esteem, and personal balance.

Through a brief family history, Ms. Brierley often invites individuals to consider family patterns, identifying and confronting faulty core beliefs, and repeated self-evaluated unhealthy patterns. Insights here often create new awareness, which lays the groundwork form them to choose more effective core beliefs, identifying and enacting behaviours which reflect the same. The process outlined above allows the individual 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"