My Approach

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We’re all shaped by many influences over the course of our lives – from genetics to how we were nurtured in childhood; the health we enjoy, or lack; our cultural and community roots; the wounds and losses we’ve endured; our level of privilege based on economic status, access to education, gender, race and ability; our unique personalities and temperament, among others.

 

Therapists are drawn to different theoretical and philosophical frameworks, and dive into the ones that most closely align with our personal and professional values: This is what draws me to a relational and humanistic approach to serving others, regardless of the “issue” at hand. This means that I come into this work seeing you as a whole person – not a diagnosis, and certainly not a problem to be fixed. I am no expert of anyone’s life but my own, but instead invite a collaborative partnership with humility and respect for your story.

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I draw from a variety of theories and modalities to help address what’s bringing you to therapy, all of which are grounded in evidence and trauma-informed but none of which I use prescriptively or with a "one size fits all" approach. These include:

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• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• Motivational Interviewing / Communication 

• Polyvagal theory - relates to understanding our stress response system, and how we can use this wisdom and apply practices to settle and soothe ourselves

• Attachment theory - helps us gain insights into how early childhood experiences can influence our adult relationships (and general ways of coping, perceiving the world, etc.) 

• I practice and promote the use of mindful awareness to soften the effects of our (often unkind) thought bubbles while they judge, lie, fearmonger, predict the worst, stew, shame spiral...and on and on. 

 

With curiosity and transparency, I strive to help you develop language and new perspectives related to the challenges you are facing, build skills and strategies to dampen down the personal impact of these challenges and in turn, feel more capable and empowered. 

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I will:

• Meet you where you’re at in terms of readiness

• Check in regularly to ensure we're on the same page in addressing your goals at a comfortable pace  

• Be a warm companion as we work through your identified concerns

• Offer sensitive, but frank insights and feedback in the spirit of building insight and increasing flexibility of beliefs held (some of which may be problematic to you)

• Invite you to question and challenge me as much as you need in order to trust the process.  

 

I won’t:

• Make promises I can't keep

• Use manipulative methods to try and change your way of thinking or behaviour - you are invited into interventions with full transparency

• Respond in judgement to anything you say or do.