Marcela Borges

  Integrating Psychoanalysis into Counselling: A Holistic Approach Counselling and psychoanalysis are often seen as distinct therapeutic approaches, but when combined, they offer a powerful method for addressing both immediate concerns and deep-seated emotional patterns. A counsellor who integrates psychoanalytic techniques into therapy provides clients with both practical solutions and profound self-awareness, fostering long-term emotional growth. How Counsellors Use Psychoanalysis in Therapy A counsellor who incorporates psychoanalysis into their practice blends structured guidance with deep exploration of the unconscious. This approach allows clients to address current challenges while uncovering underlying emotional conflicts that may influence their thoughts and behaviors. Key Aspects of Psychoanalytically-Informed Counselling Exploring Unconscious Influences: The counsellor helps clients recognize patterns rooted in past experiences and unresolved emotions. Free Associatio...

If you’re unfamiliar with mediation, it’s worth taking a moment to explore how it can help resolve conflicts effectively.   Mediation is a structured, voluntary process where an independent third party, the mediator, helps people in dispute reach a mutually agreeable resolution. Mediation is widely used in family law, workplace conflicts, commercial disputes, and community disagreements, providing an alternative to court proceedings that is often faster, less expensive, and less adversarial. How Does Mediation Work? Mediation involves a neutral mediator facilitating discussions between the parties in conflict. Unlike a judge or arbitrator, the mediator does not impose a decision but instead guides the conversation, ensuring that all perspectives are heard and helping the parties explore potential solutions. A typical mediation process includes: Preparation: Each party provides background information on the dispute. Opening Statements: The mediator outlines the process, and each p...

Marcela Borges – Lawyer, Mediator and Psychoanalyst  Hello, Before anything else, I appreciate you taking the time to seek support - you're not alone. I’ve been navigating conflict since I was seven, growing up with divorced parents and naturally stepping into the role of mediator before I even knew what that meant. I still remember the tension, the constant arguments - the kind that stays with you. One day, I turned to my mom and said, ‘Why don’t you and Dad just get divorced? It has to be better than all this fighting.’ When I was 10, my parents’ divorce officially began. While they managed to agree on most things in court, it was a different story at home. My dad would tell me things about my mom that I shouldn’t have known, and my mom would say things about my dad that I didn’t want to hear. Only years later, during my Law degree, I understood that I could have been a victim of Parental Alienation. Caught in the middle, I realised how much kids absorb, how much words matter, an...