10 Questions with Michelle McClintock

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

• It definitely chose me. It was my first love. Coaching has become my second love. I feel very blessed to have had a career doing what brings me joy.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional/personal development?

• Acceptance and Commitment therapy - the mindfulness, compassion, practicality and wide applicability make it my go-to therapy approach, (plus the generosity of the ACT community)
  
  Process-oriented psychology - for the deep, transformative, shamanic exercises and experiences, for the unique understanding of consciousness (which blends well with ACT)
  
  Client-centred therapy - so essential to take care of the fundamentals - connection, care, compassion, non-judgment, aligning with client goals
  
  CBT - sometimes you just need these rock solid cognitive-behavioural techniques

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

• I find that I have the most to bring to those things that I have struggled with in my own journey as a human, so I love to work with...
  - Highly sensitive people
  - Perfectionists
  - Highly anxious people including general & social- anxiety, panic attacks & obsessive/compulsive (OCD)
  - LGBTQIA community
  - People dealing with PTSD
  - People coping with chronic pain
  - People dealing with anger issues
  - People coping with grief & loss
  - People dealing with addictions
  - People coping with past abuse (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, sexual)

• What method/s do you use?

• A lot of education (knowledge is power and learning is fun)
  A heap of mindfulness (learning how to be more present as life is unfolding)
  A few shamanic techniques (to transform big stuff in gentle, non-threatening ways)
  A bunch of techniques to manage difficult/uncomfortable/unwanted thoughts, feelings, sensations
  A smattering of cognitive-behavioural techniques where required

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

• Hopefully immediately. From the first session. I want them to feel deeply heard from the get-go, because being understood by another human is so transformative. Then as we get into strategies, I ask my clients to be patient, and to work hard on practicing what we have discussed, because only through consistent practice will new behaviours stick.

• How has therapy made you a better person?

• I'm less judgmental;, more accepting, more open, more self-aware, content, full of gratitude, peaceful, compassion to others and myself, more encouraging to self and others...

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

• Connecting authentically with other humans
  Solving tricky, persistent, difficult things with other humans
  Having fun and enjoying the process of growth and being present
  

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

• Very rarely. I enjoy what I do, and I consciously choose to take a positive mindset to each and very day.
  And if I am having a "bad hair" day, sitting down and listening and being present with another human always puts me into a good mood.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

• Self-Awareness
  Communication (effective communication is based in self-awareness)
  Compassion (also based in self-awareness and self-compassion)

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

• Songs
  Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake - this song is full of joy and happy vibes
  
  Movies
  Matrix - we are all waking up from a dream where we have no power and realising we are powerful beyond belief
  
  Books
  The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
  A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
  Awaken the Giant Within - Tony Robbins
  High Performance Habits - Brendon Burchard
  The Tao te Ching - various editions
  Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig