“Independent living, as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at society and disability, and a worldwide movement of people with disabilities working for equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect.”
Mission
At Shifting Lives, we help people integrate well within society, irrespective of their
differences: for people with disabilities, we seek to help them attain equal opportunities, self-
determination, and self-respect, both in the workforce and in the community.
Vision
We envision organizational working that assists individuals to be treated with dignity in
societal spaces, while also helping them achieve independence.
Values
We are extremely proud and conscious of our values at Shifting Lives and treat everyone with ethical professionalism. All our staff has a strong belief in diversity, inclusion, and cultural identity so no matter who you are, where you are from, or what you believe, we offer support and guidance to help you achieve your ultimate goals, harmony, and satisfaction in your life.
How It Works?
During family therapy, we will initially consult with each person separately to find out each person’s stated issue. We then start working with people together so as to help them learn to hear what each other is saying. That way, they can find their way to a healthier relationship.
In therapy, we will act as the middle-man between clients. Where there is an issue with communication, we will talk to each person separately while the other listens. We will often give homework to work on between sessions because the objective is for clients to eventually learn how to sort through their own issues. We will guide you and give you the strategies to hear what your partner or family member is trying to say, so that you can work out what to do.
At the beginning of therapy, we work with all parties to set goals of where each person wants to be and what they want to achieve. At every session we check to make sure that everyone is progressing towards their set goals. Our therapists will direct back to or modify the goals, if necessary. Our therapists will find past patterns to explain current behaviour and they will help modify actions so that all parties can work together.
In family therapy, we will ask all members to attend sessions so that we can observe the dynamics of the whole family. Our therapist will quickly recognise where any problems are and will help you structure a healthier pattern of how parents and children interact.
Essence of the process
Every counselling and therapy session is unique and each situation requires a different number of sessions. Depending on the problem and where everyone is at, our therapists will advise on the best course of action. Often 5-10 sessions are normal, but our therapists will always discuss with you where progress is being made and what the expectations are. We focus on your growth as a whole person. Our therapists will get past your stuck place, or if we are unable to get past it or see no progress in a few sessions, we will discuss alternatives. We pride ourselves in being as transparent as possible, given confidentiality and clinical constraints, and we do everything we can so you can make an informed decision for continuing therapy. Please call us to discuss your situation, and we will advise on how we can help.
