A MULTI-FACETED THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

No matter what you are hoping to achieve through counselling -

• emotional, traumatic or personal issues

• difficulties in a relationship or family

• work through a major decision, or

• developing greater self-awareness & acceptance

….. we can work together to reach your goals – one insightful shift at a time.‍ ‍

And compassionate, non-judgmental dialogue is where I will meet you, get to know you, and come to understand your aims and goals. Together we choose the most practical place & route to get you to where you would like to be.

Modern brain & trauma-based research teaches us that it is through making contact with, and getting to know our pain & suffering…rather than avoiding it, that we are able to understand, accept, move beyond, and even live with things that cause us pain. And in so doing, the pain eases and equanimity and contentment increase.

Whether your issues stem from a history of anxiety, depression, fractured relationships, trauma, addiction, physical pain, anger, etc – the potential for personal growth and overcoming suffering is within you. In a safe therapeutic relationship and with possibly unrecognized internal and other supports in place, it is possible to make contact with past and/or current suffering… to recognize causes and conditions … and to reconcile and learn to live more fully and happily with whatever people or conditions have caused your suffering.

This may involve bringing to light old patterns and beliefs about self & others • recognizing ‘systemic’ (historical, familial, gender, cultural, etc) causes and conditions • finding ways to create space for healing • sometimes renewing relationships • and finally, coming to know and accept ourselves with greater understanding, compassion and authenticity. ‍ ‍

Because mental & emotional safety is of utmost concern, a therapeutic relationship needs to be built on trust, and a solid understanding of your needs, wants, and beliefs.

The primary multi-faceted therapeutic lens that I bring to our relationship is Multi-Cultural & Trauma Informed, influenced by Humanistic approaches including Focusing (Gene Gendlin), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behaviour Theory.‍ ‍

Focusing is a Somatic Therapy developed by Philosopher Gene Gendlin that is also available in our therapeutic work. It is a uniquely inward-focused therapeutic approach that involves supporting a specific kind of open, non-judging attention to an “internal knowing” - something that is experienced bodily but is not yet in words. Sounds complicated? It’s actually not. Focusing can, among other things, be used to become clear on what one feels or wants, to obtain new insights about one's situation, and to stimulate change or healing of a situation.