The entry of a chronic condition, possibly accompanied by pain and disability, presents a fundamental change in the course of your life.

Some conditions can be fairly mild in the effects they have on your day-to-day life and functioning, whilst other conditions can be the cause of severe and far-reaching changes.

Aside from the immediate practical issues that present themselves, such as the nature and accessibility of medical therapy, your level of function, adjusting your professional and social participation, financial repercussions and pain therapy, you also experience deep and profound inner trauma.        

The counselling of Heart and Soul is offered from a place of compassion and with an understanding born from both professional and personal experience with chronic conditions.

Scope and areas of Practice

In the aim of helping you live a life of quality and meaning within the context of your illness, pain and/or disability, Heart and Soul incorporates six areas of practice:

1. Support – here you find the space to express yourself and to unburden your grief, fears, doubts and a host of other emotions that accompany your trials. Our dialogue will give us insight in your emotional, practical, medical and social and we will look at ways of meeting those needs.
2. Life Work – illness and pain introduce an existential crisis, whereby aspects of meaning and life purpose are challenged to the extreme. Some biographical reflections will allow us to gain perspective and find ways of bringing renewal in your altered life.
3. Symptom Relief – the relief of physical, emotional and/or mental distress. We look at your experiences with medication and we introduce other options, such as pain relief exercises, relaxation techniques, meditation and emotional support. If needed, we will offer continued assistance in managing your condition.
4. Education – if needed, here you will be able to be educated about your illness, about the associated emotional stages, about possible medical help, keeping to a regime of care, the necessary therapies and how to best live with your condition.
5. Resource – Heart and Soul offers a wide range of self-help guides, workbooks, exercises, information on support groups, on-line use and other helpful information.
6. Skill Building – this is all about coping and function. You will learn about practical skills, ergonomics, pacing, daily rhythm, IT skills and self-care.

Counselling work does not provide a quick fix. It can be a challenging process and does not take you back to the life you lived before. It takes you to the life ahead of you.

Certain views and reflections can be accessed here: themighty.com/arjanbogaers

As a matter of your free introduction, I invite you to send me a 1 – 2 page confidential summary here, presenting your personal circumstances, your challenges and what you would want from this counselling. You will receive a response to your letter within three working days.

Alternatively, you can request the on-line brochure here.