It is so rewarding to witness significant and positive changes in a client's life. Many clients bring one specific problem to counselling: that's why they come, that's what they address, that's what they focus on.

But sometimes people slide into something unexpected: they take a step back and view themselves from a completely different, and often unexpected, perspective. They rediscover 'old selves' that they wish they had never lost, or catch a glimpse of new, possible selves; they become more aware of the relative brevity of life and of their own mortality. Far from being depressing, this often helps people to focus on the immediacy of their experience and to accept their own personal reality; it can motivate them to explore, discover and then realise their own potential. They begin to challenge ingrained patterns, cast off the longstanding introjections that have always said to them "you can't" and, perhaps for the first time, begin to taste freedom. The look on a client's face often suggests that it tastes pretty good!

It can be a scary step to take but it's much easier doing it within a safe, therapeutic setting with someone they trust.

For me, participating in this process is like participating in an awakening and is one of the reasons this is such a great profession.

"It is all too commonplace not to be mentally ill but to be stuck and languishing in life. Positive mental health is a presence: the presence of positive emotion, the presence of engagement, the presence of meaning, the presence of good relationships, and the presence of accomplishment. Being in a state of mental health is not merely being disorder-free; rather it is the presence of flourishing." (Martin Seligman: 'Flourish' - 2010)

Solution-focused workshop

Had lots of fun running an introductory Solution-focused Brief Therapy workshop a couple of nights ago for a group of (mostly) coaches at the North West Coaching Circle in Liverpool. Most of the group had not encountered this approach before; they were very enthusiastic and participated wholeheartedly in the various exercises. It was good to see how positively they responded. Many felt that this approach is something which they will be able to incorporate in their coaching work.

The Solution-focused approach is about identifying what works and doing more of it, rather than focusing on what does not work and trying to eliminate it. Here is a wonderful example of someone who has done just that: http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/10827733/espnw-soaring-spirit-helps-charlotte-brown-blind-pole-vaulter-texas-succeed-track-off

Had my first meeting with the professional at one of the local golf courses. We discussed how we might experiment with EFT to improve people's golf game and how we might measure success.

I have wanted to try EFT in this context for a long time and this is an opportunity to do it. Psychology has long been recognised as a key factor in sports performance, and EFT has been used effectively with a wide range of sports. I am hoping that I can extend my work into this area.

Enjoyed running a workshop last night at the Mersey Counselling and Therapy Centre. A great crowd of people: lively and keen to participate. I introduced them to Edward de Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' technique, something they might use when discussing possible projects at the Centre. It's amazing how many fresh ideas come pouring out of people when they use this technique.

Paula Young

The Internet makes it so much easier to link up with people all over the world but it also, perhaps, opens us up to a special kind of loss. All sorts of people, in all sorts of places and in all different walks of life become part of our world but there is always the risk that these people might leave without us ever meeting them in the 'real' world.

So it was with Paula Young. She and I first made contact a couple of years ago via Linked-In. We began writing to each other, spoke on the phone once and had plans to write a book together. I was struck by Paula's warmth, her humanity, her sense of humour, how much she cared for people and wanted to make a difference through her work as a therapist.

A few months ago, Paula told me that she was battling cancer. We didn't talk much about it. From time to time, I would hear about her visits to hospitals and the difficulties she was going through but she was so upbeat that I always felt confident she would pull through.

Early last month, Paula died. She lost this particlar battle.

I never got to meet her. I just have her e-mails and that one special phone call to remember her by. But she had an impact on my life and I know from what I have seen other people write that she had a positive impact on their lives as well.

Some of her thoughts are still accessible in her blog: A Therapist's Thoughts at http://therapiststhoughts.blogspot.co.uk/.