Psychotherapy

Individual Psychotherapy

 I adhere to an attachment, trauma -informed lense in my work, and pull from multiple empirically validated  psychotherapy modalities, studied over several years.  These include  Emotion-Focused Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Body-Centred Psychotherapy and Focusing. UsIng these experiential approaches  to align with your unique needs.. 

I see therapeutic change as a process that happens on many levels, most of which are not within our awareness.  Individual psychotherapy can be a space to be lovingly  curious about the ways in which we find ourselves operating without our awareness, or that we have taken for granted.  Appreciating  the ways in which we arrived at this point, while also noticing those patterns that might no longer be helpful to us in the present.  Noting those moments where our behaviours do not attend to our unmet desires, Finding new hope and trust in the therapeutic relationship to try something new. 

Couples Counselling ( Emotion Focused Couples Therapy)

I combine both experiential, process-oriented approaches and systemic therapies in my work with couples .  

EFT is a short-term, scientifically supported therapy that helps couples identify the underlying dynamics  that create lasting positive changes in their relationships. It is regarded as one of the most effective approaches to  couple and family therapy.  Research studies find that after 10-12 sessions, 70-75% of couples demonstrate significant improvement.  EFT has been shown to be an effective approach to couples counselling with a variety of issues, including depression, past infidelity, grief and loss, and past trauma.   EFT draws from attachment theory, which asserts that humans are hardwired for strong emotional bonds with others. According to EFT, relationship distress is seen as a result of a perceived threat to this connection.    EFT focuses on what causes relationship distress and provides a detailed map to our distressed patterns that negatively  overtake the opportunity for connection. A new cycle of interaction is established in which both partners are experienced as available and responsive to each others needs. This safe, secure attachment allows couples to be flexible in problem solving — communicate effectively even during conflicts.

Originally developed by  Dr. Susan Johnson,  EFT revolutionized the field of couple therapy by introducing a new way of exploring couple dynamics through experiencing. I have had the honour of being a student and trainee of EFT since 2003.  

Book recommendation:  Hold Me Tight -Susan Johnson

Family Therapy  (Emotional Focused- Family Therapy - EFFT)

I have several requests from adult children wanting to mend relationships with their parents.   I work with families, specifically those with adult children, to mend bonds and heal fractures within their relationships using systemic and experiential interventions.  As an EFFT therapist with families, I focus on the emotional experiences and problematic  patterns within the family system that block family members from accessing the source of their desired connection, to create new patterns and deepen emotional accessibility and responsiveness.      

"EFFT provides a practical approach to engaging families at an emotional level. Accessing, processing, and connecting family members through the power of emotional experience promotes healing and fosters a family’s resilience to the everyday and unexpected challenges of life."  

Emotionally Focused family Therapy: Restoring Connection and Promoting Resilence

-James L. Furrow, Gail Palmer, S.M Johnson, G. Faller and L. Palmer- Olsen