Ensaf’s Services
Family Therapy
The core of Ensaf’s passion is family therapy. She understands that every family is different and for this reason, has a client-based approach to family therapy. She likes to work alongside her clients collaboratively in therapy to ensure that each family member is having their needs and concerns met.
Ensaf’s approach to family therapy is to begin with 2 sessions with the whole family or whoever is available to attend. This allows Ensaf to begin to build an understanding of the family dynamic and hear each member’s perspective of what may have bought them to therapy. From here, Ensaf will begin to work with the family to resolve conflict and support healthy communication. Part of this process is helping families recognise unhelpful patterns and behaviours and work towards improving these interactions. Ensaf does this through using systemic family approaches, which has a focus on understanding family challenges and increasing emotional safety to support healthier relationships. The ultimate outcome is to improve communication and interactions to help families connect and bond.
Adolescents
Ensaf’s time working in the education sector throughout her career has given her a deeper understanding of the challenges adolescents face. A large part of family therapy usually involves the adolescent.
Ensaf has worked with adolescents who have showed presentations including:
– Adolescent depression
– Various behavioural difficulties including anger
– School refusal
– Self-harm
– Suicidal ideation
– Distress after parents’ separation and conflicts
– Body image and peer pressure
Ensaf’s approach is to initially work separately with the parents/caregiver and adolescent. This is to build an understanding of their difficulties and perspectives and to ensure each person feels heard to begin to rebuild trust. Ensaf’s time with the parents/caregivers will focus on helping them identify their own attachment styles that may have impacted on their relationship with their children. Ensaf’s goal is to ensure the adolescent feels heard and safe. But further, to develop trust and a sense of self value.
Couples Counselling
Ensaf believes there is always a way to facilitate positive change in relationships and approaches couples counselling with the same sanctity as family therapy. Ensaf has training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT). GMCT places the focuses on couples developing awareness of their judgement and blame. Ensaf assists couples to be aware of any patterns in both, between them and individually to support them in enriching their relationship.
Ensaf also utilises Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) which has a large focus purely on emotion. This helps couples become responsive, accessible and engaged with each other. The outcomes of couples counselling is the facilitation of connecting, healing and understanding. Couples will learn to communicate effectively with each other and build on trust. They will understand how to connect through secure attachments and bonding which will advance a healthier and happier relationship.
Individual Therapy
Ensaf see’s individuals with a variety of presentations. She understands the different treatment needs for varying age groups and stages of life. She has experience with depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), grief and loss and attachment difficulties. Ensaf’s earlier career history working in educational settings has given her further interest and experience with pre-teens and adolescents.
Ensaf works with pre-teens, teens and adults.
Referrals Accepted
– Medicare (Better Access / Mental Health Care Plan)
– Private Pay
– GP Referral
– Paediatrician
– Psychiatrist
Special Interest Areas
– Family therapy
– Couples Therapy
– Adolescents (depression & self-harm)
– PTSD
– Trauma