Brenton brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as a psychotherapist, drawing upon a 20-year career as a university lecturer and researcher in the field of wellbeing. His passion for learning and commitment to academic rigour infuse his therapeutic practice, ensuring a comprehensive and informed approach to mental health and holistic wellness.
Brenton holds four degrees, culminating in a Master’s degree in Counselling from Monash University in 2018. His academic journey complements his diverse range of certifications, including Pilates, yoga, and Franklin Method teaching, along with qualifications as a life coach and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner. This unique blend of knowledge and skills equips Brenton with a comprehensive understanding of both physical and mental health, enriching his therapeutic methodology.
In his therapeutic practice, Brenton adopts an integrative approach, leveraging Person-Centred therapy as his foundation while incorporating elements of Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He extends his expertise to trauma-focused therapy through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), employs the Gottman Method for couples therapy, and utilises the Ackerman Relational Approach for issues related to sex, sexuality, and intimacy.
Brenton cultivates a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment, tailoring his approach to the unique needs of each client. He believes in the transformative power of holistic integration, emphasising the interconnectedness of mind, body, and soul in facilitating positive life changes. Through collaborative engagement, Brenton partners with individuals and couples to achieve balance, resilience, and enhanced overall well-being in their lives.
I am an intersubjective counsellor, coach and psychotherapist, which means I believe the relationship between myself and my client is of the utmost importance. I work together with my clients to help them find positive solutions to their complex life issues.
I offer a holistic approach to wellbeing through counselling, physical wellness coaching and psychotherapy. My approach combines wellness training (body and mind) with cutting edge evidence-based practice to find solutions that are fit-for-purpose for your unique world.
My private practice welcomes clients from a cross section of Hong Kong and I work with individuals and couples who are dealing with a variety of life issues and challenges (anxiety, anger management, life change/transition, family/relationship issues, depression, social anxiety, exercise addition, etc) and who want to make positive changes in their lives and relationships.
Life can be unpredictable, messy and often doesn’t go to plan. It sometimes takes us down difficult paths where we can feel stuck or overwhelmed. Therapy can seem like it's a daunting process as it can often be seen to address only the negative aspects of what life throws at us and the difficult situations in which we find ourselves. At times of crisis it is also important not to overlook your strengths and coping mechanisms, and your innate ability to manage life’s challenges. Identifying and building on your strengths helps provides a foundation on which to build a future of your choosing.
Counselling provides the opportunity to explore these life challenges in a safe, non-judgemental and confidential environment. It is not advice giving. Counselling enhance self-awareness and the ability to acquire greater understanding of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. A counsellor is someone who acknowledges your problems and helps you work towards reaching alternative solutions. The role of the counsellor is to listen attentively and without judgment to the material you bring to therapy, in order to facilitate inner exploration.
· Counselling can help you gain a better understanding of yourself and the difficulties you are facing.
· Counselling can help you gain a better understanding of your unique strengths and how to build on these for a better future.
· Counselling can help define specific goals and objectives in specific areas of your life.
· Counselling is a process unique to each individual.
· Counselling can help you make sense of what is happening to you at difficult time of your life.
If you feel like counselling is something that you want to explore, the next stage would be to make an initial appointment. In your first session we will discuss what has brought you to counselling, why now, and what you hope to achieve. We would also explore how we would work together, whether it is long-term, short-term, or open ended. This initial session gives us both an opportunity to get a sense of each other and gives you a chance to decide whether you would like to continue working with me.
My therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based practice and I draw strongly from Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness and Positive Psychology. With these I integrate other techniques and methods to help tailor interventions to your specific needs and unique situation.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT has been extensively researched and shown to be consistently effective. CBT focuses on the “here and now” where stressful states such as depression, anxiety and anger are often perpetuated or exacerbated by biased ways of thinking. Interventions often involve bringing awareness to automatic negative thoughts and core beliefs in order to examine their basis in “reality” in an effort to generate new alternative/positive ways of thinking.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT focuses on accepting what is out of your personal control and committing to action that improves the quality of life through maximising human potential. ACT helps develop psychological skills to deal more effectively with difficult thoughts and feelings. ACT also helps clarify your values and utilise these values to guide you to take positive action.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness has been extensively researched and is fast gaining recognition as a powerful tool of change and a way to better deal with life’s challenges. Mindfulness enables us to improve our awareness of ourselves and the world around us and has been found to reduce stress, enhance well-being and improve our sense of being present, of feeling alive, as well as improving work and personal relationships.
Life Coaching
Life Coaching helps you maximise your full potential and attain desired results around a specific area of your life. Life Coaching helps you identify your goals and develop strategies to facilitate positive life changes. Life Coaching accelerates personal growth by carefully analysing your current situation, identifying limiting beliefs and other potential obstacles, and devising a plan of action to help you achieve your desired outcomes.
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology has been described as the scientific study of “what makes life most worth living”. Positive Psychology aims to help all people flourish and live their very best lives. It focuses on the positive events and influences in life, such as positive experiences, positive states and traits and positive institutions. Practitioners of Positive Psychology focus on developing character strengths, optimism, life satisfaction, happiness, well-being, gratitude, compassion, self-compassion, self-esteem and self-confidence, and hope.
Couples Therapy, Marriage Counselling and Relationship Skill Building
Couples counselling aims to build trust, emotional safety and sustainable communication skills to solidify and unify your relationship. Couples counselling works to help you develop awareness of where, how and on what you get stuck in your relationship. Once identified you can begin to understand how to accept one another and learn repair strategies to build a better mutual relationship. I work with couples whose relationship is in crisis and who want to regain happiness, increase trust and deepen their bond and intimacy. I also work with couples who want NOT to get into crisis but feel they have drifted and want to regain and maintain their bond, as well as couples who want a relationship “health-check” and are looking to develop tools and strategies to deepen their love and intimacy.
Sessions are approximately 50 minutes in length.
There is no requirement to pay in advance; however, a 25% cancellation fee is charged (to cover the room rental) if the session is cancelled with less than 24 hrs notice.
