About Me...
David Hermann (BCouns, DipCommServ) |
I am passionate about assisting people through a range of issues including mental health recovery, relationships & communication, carer burnout and suicidology.
My integrative counselling style is collaborative and empowering; drawing upon the strengths of my clients to facilitate change. I prioritise the comfort and safety of my clients to elicit positive and sustainable outcomes. As a proud Queenslander, I offer personalised and compassionate counselling services to the metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities of this beautiful state. I am a qualified, professional Counsellor registered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) - Australia's peak body for counsellors and psychotherapists. (#32394). Furthermore, I have previously volunteered as an accredited Telephone Crisis Supporter with Lifeline, and provided Crisis Counselling Services for the Redland Community Centre & Wynnum Community Place. In 2019/20, I deployed as part of the QLD State Community Recovery Team (Disaster Relief) providing Psychological First Aid for those affected by floods (Townsville) & bushfires (Southern QLD). |
Mission Statement...
Polaris Counselling utilizes a calming and supportive style that encourages clients to feel comfortable and safe. As a professional counsellor, I value the importance of pursuing both professional and personal alignment with emotional, social, spiritual, physical, and mental wellness. I am committed to providing a relaxed and empowering therapy space for all who are seeking support.
The celestial term "Polaris" is derived from Latin: stellar polaris; meaning 'Pole Star', commonly referred to as the North Star. The special position relative to the Earth's axis creates predictability and consistency in the night sky, making it an important and useful navigational tool. For this reason, Polaris is an icon of human curiosity and exploration. It is my hope at Polaris Counselling that you will feel supported; safe in the knowledge that I will help guide you through any issues you are currently facing.
The celestial term "Polaris" is derived from Latin: stellar polaris; meaning 'Pole Star', commonly referred to as the North Star. The special position relative to the Earth's axis creates predictability and consistency in the night sky, making it an important and useful navigational tool. For this reason, Polaris is an icon of human curiosity and exploration. It is my hope at Polaris Counselling that you will feel supported; safe in the knowledge that I will help guide you through any issues you are currently facing.
Treatment Modalities...
Person-Centred Therapy
I sincerely believe that clients are capable and trustworthy. This style of humanistic counselling helps identify and utilise a clients’ ability to make changes for themselves. Throughout this process, you will become open to experience, live with a sense of meaning and purpose, and learn to trust in yourself and others.
Overall, person-centred therapy is a non-directive, optimistic therapy that focuses on the client’s ability to make changes in his or her life and encourages you to strive for self-actualisation.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-focused therapy is founded on the rationale that there are exceptions to every problem. By examining these exceptions and having a clear vision of a preferred future, client and counsellor, together, can generate ideas for solutions. Your therapy is future focused, highlighting and utilising your strengths to enable a more effective future.
The solution-focused approach provides a framework for exploring and utilising clients’ existing resources; their strengths, support networks, ideas and theories of how change occurs. Solution focused counselling seeks to redirect client thinking from being problem-focused to solution-focused.
Solution-focused therapy is founded on the rationale that there are exceptions to every problem. By examining these exceptions and having a clear vision of a preferred future, client and counsellor, together, can generate ideas for solutions. Your therapy is future focused, highlighting and utilising your strengths to enable a more effective future.
The solution-focused approach provides a framework for exploring and utilising clients’ existing resources; their strengths, support networks, ideas and theories of how change occurs. Solution focused counselling seeks to redirect client thinking from being problem-focused to solution-focused.
Motivational Interviewing
"Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented method of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation for and movement toward a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own arguments for change.” (motivationalinterview.org, n.d.).
MI has a wide range of demonstrated applications within the counselling setting, including: reducing alcohol and drug intake in adults and adolescents, smoking cessation, medication compliance and management of risk-taking behaviours and compulsions. Clients are able to identify and mobilise their intrinsic values and goals in order to effect change.
"Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented method of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation for and movement toward a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own arguments for change.” (motivationalinterview.org, n.d.).
MI has a wide range of demonstrated applications within the counselling setting, including: reducing alcohol and drug intake in adults and adolescents, smoking cessation, medication compliance and management of risk-taking behaviours and compulsions. Clients are able to identify and mobilise their intrinsic values and goals in order to effect change.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness strategies in order to help individuals better understand and manage their thoughts and emotions in order to achieve relief from feelings of distress.
Originally developed to address recurrent depression, MBCT may also be beneficial to people seeking treatment for a wide range of mental and physical health concerns, including anxiety, food and eating issues, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and epilepsy. MBCT attempts to give participants the necessary tools to combat depressive symptoms as they arise. People who learn these skills revert to these methods in times of distress or when faced with potentially overwhelming situations.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness strategies in order to help individuals better understand and manage their thoughts and emotions in order to achieve relief from feelings of distress.
Originally developed to address recurrent depression, MBCT may also be beneficial to people seeking treatment for a wide range of mental and physical health concerns, including anxiety, food and eating issues, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and epilepsy. MBCT attempts to give participants the necessary tools to combat depressive symptoms as they arise. People who learn these skills revert to these methods in times of distress or when faced with potentially overwhelming situations.
