How I Do It

Ethos

Problems, obstacles, and challenges offer us uninvited opportunities to grow.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our choice is our growth and our freedom.”

-Viktor Frankl

“It is not what happens to us in life that matters, but what we do with what has happened.”

-Alfred Adler

Deborah Braun, your counselling and coaching ally wonders,

“What will you choose?”

Counselling Approaches

I help clients achieve optimal functioning using a process that is flexible and individualized.

I draw on different approaches: from those based on neuroscience (neuropsychology), to pragmatic, traditional therapies. I use these approaches because they work; I’ve seen the positive results.

  • Neuropsychology approaches can be effective for treating pervasive counterproductive struggles, trauma, relationship issues, and for enhancing goal attainment, motivation, and resilience.

    At Choice Points, counselling using neuropsychology approaches is based on scientific research and therapies:

    • Complex Integration of Multiple Brain Systems (CIMBS)

    • Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)

  • Pragmatic, traditional therapies have been demonstrated effective for treating adjustment struggles (illness, career, school), depression, anxiety (including panic), stress and pain, interpersonal challenges, and for building self-esteem, hope, and relaxation.

    At Choice Points, counsellors are trained in a wide range of traditional therapies:

    • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    • Motivational Interviewing

    • Mindfulness

    • Assertiveness and Non-Violent Communication

    • Working Intentionally with Hope

Coaching Approach

LOCIS: Harness your wisdom

 1. LIAISE = Learn about one other and articulate a trusting alliance

 2. OBSERVE = Take a meta-view of what is + identify your CHOICE POINT(s)

 3. CHALLENGE = Uncover habits, discomforts, and opportunities, then LEAN IN

 4. INVIGORATE = PRACTICE BOLD ENGAGEMENT with micro steps, review, refine, reinforce

 5. SAVOUR = Drink in your accomplishments, celebrate you, then reinforce to embolden into habits

  • Learn about each other and articulate our trusting alliance

    YOU:

    • Your challenges, goals, motives, temperament

    • Your working style, strengths, resources, needs, limitations, timelines

    ME: What I offer you. How I support your growth.

    • Whole person approach and training

    • Integrating physical, emotional and interpersonal health

    • I am: curious, creative, earnest, playful, humble, insightful, gutsy, calming

    • I am not: linear, rule bound, rigid, directive or prescriptive, the expert

    Structure: 8-12 sessions, 2-3 week spacing, Monday, Thursday, Friday 8am-6pm

  • A. Identify

    • CHALLENGE(s)

    • RESILIENCE

    • MINDSET

    • ENGAGEMENT

    B. Select your CHOICE POINT(s)

    • Health

    • Career

    • Finances

    • Purpose / Meaning / Spirituality

    • Social (family / friends)

    • Love

    • Fun / Relaxation

    • Personal Environment

  • Understand your LOCI of influence:

    • Early influences

    • Attachment styles

    • Neuroplasticity

    • Saboteurs / Self-critic

    • Addictive tendencies

    • Lifestyle pressures

    • Communication styles

    • Vulnerability

    • Courage to be authentic

    Build insight about your habits, discomforts, then uncover opportunities to LEAN IN

    • CHALLENGE yourself to be authentic, assertive, negotiate, set boundaries, improve harmony

  • BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOU

    • PRACTICE BOLD ENGAGEMENT with micro steps that might feel unnatural and sometimes stressful

    • SMART goals – identify and execute your plan

    • Apply tools – test out and review to do better and more

    • Review, Refine, Reinforce

  • Making focused efforts to grow requires and deserves celebration.

    Doing so fortifies and optimizes NEW CHOICE POINT HABITS

    HOW?

    • We humans are habitual.

    • Change requires observing habits and challenging ourselves to get uncomfortable.

    • Being uncomfortable activates stress and makes the brain pay attention to the present.

    • When we are present and take mindful action, we trigger neuroplasticity.

    • When we observe and reflect upon the benefits and repeat new mindful actions, we strengthen our CHOICE POINTS to GROW NEW HABITS.