Peter’s Philosophy
Life Conversations
Over 10 years ago Dr Peter Cowley evolved way of working with people he called ‘Life Conversations’. Life Conversations moved away from being asked questions by a professional, into more of a free flowing conversation and through Peter’s skill, you discover the important things for yourself. People come to Life Conversations often having been seen by a counsellor, or their doctor or mental health specialist and looking for a different kind of support.
How does it work?
A lot of the focus of Life Conversations is on the meanings we attach to life and the transitions that occur in life, as these colour our thoughts, feelings and reactions about what can happen. Life Conversations look at the assumptions we hold about our lives and compares these to our actual experience. Often when we have periods of struggle it is as if our experience of reality is pointing in a different direction from our assumptions and what we would like to believe.
Life Conversations helps people move through life and the ups and downs that confront us.
There are six steps that are important when moving through a life transition.
Step 1.
Be clear about what is fact and what is your assumption.
Step 2.
Accept your assumptions are unproven opinions and can be put to one side.
Step 3.
By putting them to one side, give yourself an opportunity to consider alternative ways to relate to the world and what is happening to you.
Step 4.
Enjoy learning lessons related to the change and transition.
Step 5.
Define harmony in the context of how you appreciate the world.
Step 6.
Enjoy life!
Life’s journey
(woah)
(hold onto your horses)
(i think i’m getting the hang of this)
(fin)
Note to self:
Progress is rarely made in a straight line.
It would be nice if we simply went in a straight line to where we want to get to. Life Conversations understands the twists and turns we go through. It is a roller coaster, at times, and despite our best efforts sometimes it seems we are going backwards. Life Conversations takes a long-term supportive perspective. It is more than just feeling better. Life Conversations recognises that each person's journey is unique. Once things are feeling better, people may only come to see Peter once every few months. It is like a check-in to see that things are still on track. Life Conversations provides this opportunity to keep integrating the experiences that life gives you.