COUNSELLING SERVICES

My specializations are in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. Through experience I have learned that strictly subscribing to one of these evidence-based therapies over the other might not work for every client. That is why I sometimes borrow from different models to tailor an approach that aligns with your goals, needs, and style. In my practice I pay close attention to deeper issues and underlying factors that might have an impact on you in your adulthood. These issues can include: childhood trauma, social issues, race, gender, and power play in your life. People often seek therapy to achieve specific goals in mind, only to realize that freeing themselves from past unresolved issues paves the way to a more meaningful life. My experience also taught me that healing doesn’t mean healing the wound as though it never happened, but rather healing means the scars are no longer hurting you. I am looking forward to starting your healing process together. I offer comprehensive and intensive services dealing with:

Depression, Anxiety (social, panic attacks, phobias, ruminating thoughts, etc.), Agoraphobia, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Mental, emotional, and physical abuse, Trauma, Grief, Parenting issues, Anger management, Intimate relationships conflict, Dealing with divorce, Family and Children Services/CAS, co-parenting after separation, Work related stress.

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Short Term Counselling

Short term therapy is between six to eight sessions in total. There are certain therapeutic modalities that are designed to help you address your concerns in a short period of time. For example, Brief Solution Focused Therapy is one of the most popular modalities that you and I can utilize to help you address your concerns. The approach will be “laser-focused” on your immediate and current struggle. We will develop specific goals, an intervention plan, and preventive and reactive strategies. Two questions you might want to consider before choosing this model: 1) how long this issue has been of concern and 2) how much this issue is affecting other aspects of your life. Generally speaking short term counselling is effective in addressing situational non chronic issues. In your initial assessment you will have an idea of what best suits your needs. The structure of the therapy will be as follows:

Sessions 1 and 2 are for assessment.
Sessions 3 - 5 are for goal identification and strategies
Sessions 6 - 8 are for termination, feedback, and future planning.

Long Term Counselling

Long term therapy is defined as more than eight sessions. This model is suitable for two types of concerns: 1) chronic mental health issues that have been persistent in your life for a long time and 2) a major and sudden change/crisis that is impacting many aspects of your life.

This approach will allow us to dig deep into many aspects of who you are as a person. We will have the opportunity to build a therapeutic rapport that is based on trust. When you have trust in me you will be able to allow yourself to be vulnerable. Through your vulnerability you will be able to go to areas within yourself that might be too painful; and have been brushed off for so long. By digging deep you will be
able to understand what made you who you are now, how unresolved issues in your childhood are affecting you, and how the interrelated and interconnected parts of your life shape and influence your thoughts, behaviours, mood, and actions.

In this model I use integrative approach to therapy. Since each session might be different depending on how much you are sharing of yourself I will not strictly adhere to one particular model. I will tailor each session based on your needs and goals. I will borrow strategies and techniques from CBT, SFT, DBT, and EFT. The goal is to gradually relieve your pain until you feel comfortable on your own.

Connecting with your Healthcare Team

Being in the healthcare sector for over a decade, I learned that breaking down silos between healthcare providers can add a great value to clients. Collaboration and sharing information between your healthcare team members will put you in the center of care and will ensure continuity of support. With your written consent, if you are receiving support from other healthcare providers such as family doctors, psychiatrists, pharmacists, etc., and you feel you would like me to collaborate with them, we can discuss next steps. This service is tailored based on your unique needs and goals.