Methods
Finding an approach that best fits your needs is a collaborative process between you and me. Here are a few of the approaches that I use in my counselling work.
Whether you are dealing with historical trauma, abuse, neglect or experiencing depression, stress and anxiety, your body can be a valuable resource to promote healing. Many people are unaware of their bodily sensations and emotions. They may have learned to disconnect from their emotions and ignore recurrent physical symptoms of distress such as tension, knots in their stomach, shallow breathing, as a way of coping. They may have not had their feelings and needs responded to in a safe way, so they have disconnected from their emotions and learned to tune out their bodies.
I use an emotionally focused, body centered approach to help people re-connect with their body and emotions in a safe and supportive way. People are often amazed at how body centered therapy helps them feel emotionally strengthened, more in touch with their needs and safe within their own self, more connected and whole. By connecting with your body and emotions in a safe and supportive way you can discover inner resources that facilitate lasting change.
For people dealing with recent difficult life situations or life transitions, I use a supportive and collaborative counselling approach. My focus is on helping you identify your needs and find ways to deal with the situation that support a sense of well being. I make use of a variety of short term counselling approaches.
Some people who are stuck in chronic patterns of distress have a history of traumatic life experiences, such as emotional and physical abuse or neglect. These traumatic experiences often result in damaged self worth, negative beliefs about yourself and others, emotional numbing, difficulty trusting people, chronic anxiety and depression. Through the skilful use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) traumatic events can be resolved. You can recover your inherent feeling of value, reconnect with your emotions and develop supportive and trusting relationships with others.
Other people have had a recent trauma such as a car accident, an assault, or even the traumatic death of a loved one. They may become preoccupied with the traumatic event, unable to let it go and often experience increased levels of anxiety. With EMDR you can move through the trauma and return to your previous level of safety and well being.
For more information about EMDR check www.emdria.org
We all want to be valued for who we are and feel emotionally connected in our intimate relationships.
Yet most couples, at some point, struggle with issues of control, conflict and lack of communication. Over time these issues may lead to feeling disconnected and unloved. My approach to working with couples is based on Emotionally Focused Therapy. I will help you identify and dismantle negative cycles of behaviour and misunderstanding. The focus will be on helping you identify and express your feelings and needs in a way that restores a sense of being listened to, respected, cared for and valued by each other.
To find out more about Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy check out The Laws of Love by Dr Sue Johnson on You Tube.
A mindfulness based cognitive therapy. Depression, anxiety and chronic low self esteem all have one thing in common - chronic negative beliefs about oneself. We develop limiting beliefs about ourselves and others, such as “I am not good enough”, “I am not likeable”, “People can’t be trusted”, “I am all alone”, “I don’t deserve to be happy”..... These beliefs are often the result of unsupportive life experiences in our past. With the use of mindfulness, you can recognize that these negative core beliefs are only thoughts and have no real power over you. The emphasis is on recognizing the constant habit of telling yourself a story about who you are based on negative life experiences in your past, re-connecting with your values and life goals and learning to get out of your mind and into the present reality of your life.
If you want more information on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy go to the following link at www.amazon.ca and search for Get out of Your Mind & into Your Life.
