“Because being the best you can be will give you more life”
Life Focus was founded by husband and wife team Donatus and Patricia Michalka in 1996 to give you more life in your living.
Improve the Quality of Your Life
Life Focus aims is to help you get what you want most for yourself, for your life, for your relationship; to improve the quality of your life in areas that are most important to you.
As psychologist and counsellor, Patricia and Donatus make use of the best available resources to help you do that. These methods are many and varied. For a list of methods they are trained to use, see Home Page. What follows gives you the flavour of just some of them:
Comprehensive Resource Model Trauma Therapy (CRM)
In 2015, the brain based trauma treatment modality known as Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) was introduced to Perth and Australia by Founder and Psychologist, Lisa Schwarz.
CRM integrates various aspects of trauma treatment modalities, including EMDR, Neurophysiology and other models that treat complex trauma.
“It uniquely bridges neuroscience and spirituality through a combination of somatic therapy, traditional psychotherapy and indigenous healing concepts to provide effective relief to survivors of trauma”.
Patricia and Donatus are privileged to be part of a core group of respected Perth psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists who make use of this modality in assisting their clients.
As Foundation Trainees, Graduates and Certified CRM Practitioners, Patricia and Donatus continue to collaborate with their professional colleagues, and make use of this as well as other exciting, innovative and effective area of healing.
Clinical Hypnosis
Donatus has trained extensively in hypnosis with Michael Yapko PhD. In addition he is experienced with using the Richards Trauma Process and works with both modalities to help clients alleviate the effects of trauma.
Psychodrama Action Oriented Therapy
In 1973, when Psychodrama was first brought to Perth, to Australia and then to New Zealand, by Clinical Psychologist Lynette Clayton and Dr Max Clayton, Patricia and Donatus were Foundation Trainees and Graduates. They are experienced and qualified Directors of Psychodrama and have worked extensively in creative applications of this modality for many years.
Ongoing Continuing Professional Development
You can rest assured that you are benefitting from the best available and effective therapy methods when you work with Patricia and Donatus.
They are committed to Continuing Professional Development.
Recent examples are: ongoing follow up Training in Clinical Hypnosis with Dr Michael Yapko, Emotionally Focused Therapy with Susan Johnson in Couples Therapy, Trauma Intervention training with Dr Bessel van der Kolk, as well as other leaders in their field. This includes utilising current research findings in alleviating Emotional Distress, Dissociative Disorders and Complex Trauma.
Life Focus Brought Innovative Healing Methods To Perth
Through Life Focus, Patricia and Donatus have invited some of the most influential leaders in psychology, psychotherapy, couples counselling, personal growth and excellence to Perth and to Australia.
By setting up these centres of influence locally, they have been able to assist many in our Australian and West Australian community. For example:
The WA Centre for Attitudinal Healing
They brought well known author and psychiatrist Dr Jerry Jampolsky and Dr Diane Cirincione to Perth in 1987. They then established the first Centre for Attitudinal Healing in Western Australia.
This registered Charity has helped thousands of people find peace of mind through its many support and education programs over the past 31 years through its various city Centres and the Serpentine Falls Residential Retreat Centre, and continues its service to this day.
Imago Relationship Therapy Arrives in Perth
Life Focus initiated and organised Training in Imago Relationship Therapy for Perth psychologists and therapists in 1996. After training in Imago Relationship Therapy in the US, Donatus and Patricia, through Life Focus, brought Imago founder Dr Harville Hendrix and other US trainers, to Perth to train local therapists.
This influence has spread throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Creating Happier, More Productive Workplaces
As management consultants Patricia and Donatus have helped major Australian companies create happier and more productive workplaces.
Their clients have included:
- Families and invdividuals from all walks of life, both in Australia and overseas.
- BHP Billeton
- St John of God Health Care System
- Westpac Banking Corporation
- Woodside Petroleum
- The West Australian Tourism Commission
- Western Australian Health Department
- Western Australian Education Department
- Public and private schools
- Argyle Diamonds
- Asia Medic Pty Ltd (Singapore)
Life Focus continues to be recognised as an innovator and a leader in the field of helping YOU be the best you can be, because being the best you can be, will give you more life.