My Approach
At SMART MINDS, my counselling approach is based on Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), underpinned by Islamic values. The starting point is simple: you will be listened to without judgement, and we will work collaboratively towards the change you want to see.
SFBT is not about ignoring difficulties. As I describe it, we are not problem-phobic, but neither are we problem-centric. We acknowledge what has brought you to counselling, but the problem does not have to become the centrepiece of every conversation. Instead, we gradually shift our attention towards your hopes, strengths, resources and the future you would like to create.
What does a session look like?
We begin by building rapport and giving you space to explain what has brought you to counselling. From there, I will ask about your best hopes: if our conversations are helpful, what would you like to be different?
We may use the Miracle Question to help you imagine what life would look like if the difficulty you are facing were resolved. We then explore exceptions — times when the problem was absent, less intense or managed differently — alongside coping questions and scaling questions to identify strengths, progress and practical next steps.
A key principle is that the first session may also be the last. The aim is not to create dependency on counselling, but to help you recognise and draw upon your own resources, strengths and capabilities so that you are better equipped to respond to future challenges.
We finish by asking: What might you do differently, or do more of, after today? Often the focus is on the smallest meaningful step towards where you want to be.
Underpinning everything is an Islamic understanding that, while we take practical steps and make use of the means available to us, our ultimate reliance is upon Allah alone. We place our trust in Him, seek His guidance and recognise that all strength, change and success ultimately comes from Him.
My Approach
At SMART MINDS, my counselling approach is based on Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), underpinned by Islamic values. The starting point is simple: you will be listened to without judgement, and we will work collaboratively towards the change you want to see.
SFBT is not about ignoring difficulties. As I describe it, we are not problem-phobic, but neither are we problem-centric. We acknowledge what has brought you to counselling, but the problem does not have to become the centrepiece of every conversation. Instead, we gradually shift our attention towards your hopes, strengths, resources and the future you would like to create.
What does a session look like?
We begin by building rapport and giving you space to explain what has brought you to counselling. From there, I will ask about your best hopes: if our conversations are helpful, what would you like to be different?
We may use the Miracle Question to help you imagine what life would look like if the difficulty you are facing were resolved. We then explore exceptions — times when the problem was absent, less intense or managed differently — alongside coping questions and scaling questions to identify strengths, progress and practical next steps.
A key principle is that the first session may also be the last. The aim is not to create dependency on counselling, but to help you recognise and draw upon your own resources, strengths and capabilities so that you are better equipped to respond to future challenges.
We finish by asking: What might you do differently, or do more of, after today? Often the focus is on the smallest meaningful step towards where you want to be.
Underpinning everything is an Islamic understanding that, while we take practical steps and make use of the means available to us, our ultimate reliance is upon Allah alone. We place our trust in Him, seek His guidance and recognise that all strength, change and success ultimately comes from Him.