Areas of Expertise
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a mostly talk-based form of therapy which is now regulated in the province of Ontario. A psychotherapist must be versed in several core modalities of therapy as well as adhere to regulations set out by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). For more information on psychotherapy and the college visit: https://www.crpo.ca/what-is-psychotherapy
Integrative Counselling
As a counsellor, I tend to choose many components of different therapeutic approaches in order to best serve my client's needs. There is no "one-size-fits-all" for therapy, and so I try and work with my client's individuality in order to find what methods work best for them.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
One therapeutic approach which is very commonly used today is CBT. This form of therapy is very much goal-oriented and often focuses on the here and now. Through our sessions we will examine and challenge thoughts and beliefs that are a contributing factor in emotional or behavioural problems in your life. This form of therapy is often explored with clients experiencing anxiety, depression and many other forms of mental hardships.
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy is another common therapeutic approach which believes that the client is the best person to understand their own experiences and needs. It examines the individual from a wholistic point of view, but from the inside perspective of the client themselves. This approach is often used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, addiction and much more.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy often uses self-reflection and examining the past to help determine the potential causes for current emotional suffering. As we learn and grow through our lives, we often form unconscious patterns of behaviour (ex. defence mechanisms). Psychodynamic therapies will often bring these unconscious patterns into the light by examining a client's past and present behaviours. This approach is often used to treat anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and in some cases process past traumas.
My Approach
As a psychotherapist, I strive to help individuals thrive in their day to day lives. I have a very wholistic and integrative approach with each of my clients in counselling, drawing on many areas of psychotherapy (e.g., CBT, humanistic, systemic, and psychodynamic) to help a client best achieve their goals. This means that with one client, we might choose to focus more on cognitive-behavioural techniques but with another we may focus more on working through or reframing past experiences. Therapy is not a “one-size-fits-all” method, and so working together to find what works best is key.
I have experience working with adults of all ages in areas pertaining, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, trauma, abuse, low self-esteem, grief, chronic illness, and more. I have a special interest in helping those who are in their young adult stage of life (18-30 years old) who are trying to make sense of their past while also looking towards their future. I also have experience with bringing an individual’s sense of spirituality into the counselling process, whether that through a more traditional religious sense or in more abstract means (i.e., core values)
I provide a warm and judgement free environment for my clients in the hopes that each will feel comfortable enough to bring their true selves. Therapy is an emotional process, and so having a space which feels safe and trauma informed is key in helping each client find self-growth and healing.
