My approach to counselling

The counselling process is all about accessing what creates forward movement in your life. This involves developing an in-depth understanding of who you are, why you think, feel and behave the way you do, and what needs shifting.
We can't always change things in life, and sometimes therapy involves finding acceptance, feeling the feelings, and learning to be okay with the fact that things aren't always okay.

A bit about the process.

Our very first meeting is all about getting to know one another and beginning to establish trust. There might be some basic information that I need to know about you before we begin, so we will start with that. If you have filled out the online intake form, then this portion of our first session will be breezy. I will take the time to really listen to you and understand your unique needs and concerns. This will allow me to gain insight into your life and how we can work together in our meetings to get the best results.

Together, you and I will create a treatment plan and set some goals and expectations for the time that we work together. This part of the process is very adaptable, and looks totally unique for each client.

Counselling sessions are always fluid, addressing in the moment concerns, but also structured, so that we can move closer to goals, get things done, and have you leaving each session with new insights, tools and strategies to bring into your life.

I take great care to ensure that my services are trauma-informed and culturally sensitive. The backbone of my theoretical approach is rooted in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Cognitive behaviour theory proposes that by making deliberate changes to our thoughts and ways of acting and interacting, we can influence the way that we feel and improve our ability to regulate emotions (feeling a greater sense of self-control and confidence). I also draw from a range of other counselling theories listed below.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Narrative Therapy
Body-Oriented Therapies

Mindfulness & Yoga

Areas I work with include:

PERINATAL
MENTAL HEALTH

Parenting Together + Partner Support

Parent-Child Relationship

Reclaiming and Integrating IDENTITY after birth

Postpartum Depression, Anxiety & Mood Disorders

Grief & Loss

Problematic Substance Use/ Addiction

Traumatic Birth Experience

Recently completed training:

Certified Perinatal Health Professional (PMH-C) with Postpartum Support International
Advanced Training in Perinatal Mental Health (Postpartum Support International)
Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training (Postpartum Support International)
Somatic Experiencing Training (Peter Levine - PESI)
Occupational Awareness Training for Therapists: First Responder Trauma - Level 1 (First Responder Health)
San’yas Cultual Safety Mental Health Training (Provincial Health Services Authority)
Introduction to Narrative Approaches: Principles Concepts and Practices
Gottman Bringing Baby Home Program Educator Training (The Gottman Institute)
Postpartum Topics Training (Doula Canada)
Perinatal Support Skills & Group Facilitation (Pacific Postpartum Support Society)
DBT Skills Training with Marsha Linehan (Behavioral Tech Research)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 Clinical Training (The Gottman Institute)
PTSD Mental Health Training (Covenant House)
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (Anand Prakash Ashram, Rishikesh, India)
Distress Services Training- 30 hours (Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre)

It's really important that your counsellor's style is supportive of your growth.

I'm always happy to chat over the phone before we set up our first meeting so you can get a feel for my personality and style of working. If I'm not a fit I am very happy to make some suggestions to help you find the right therapist for you.