what to expect from me
My approach is strengths-based, geared towards personal empowerment and self-determination. My style is down to earth, supportive, authentic, compassionate, non-judgemental, creative, and intuitive.
I invite you to read below to learn a little more about how I work.
If any approach particularly resonates with you,
feel free to let me know and we can include it in our work together.
relational gestalt
Gestalt Therapy is an Experiential and Relational approach to Healing and Change.
I incorporate Gestalt into my counselling sessions by working relationally with my clients in the here-and-now.
To work relationally means that I will be present with you in the room and include my human responses in our work together. I will stay tuned in with you, relate to you on a human level, and welcome your authentic expression in the present moment.
Watch the video below to learn about Gestalt Therapy
I incorporate Gestalt into my counselling sessions by working relationally with my clients in the here-and-now.
To work relationally means that I will be present with you in the room and include my human responses in our work together. I will stay tuned in with you, relate to you on a human level, and welcome your authentic expression in the present moment.
Watch the video below to learn about Gestalt Therapy
expressive arts
Expressive arts can be a useful and effective way of tapping into our authentic expression, feelings, wisdom, and potential. It also adds a lightness to therapy, which can actually make therapy fun! Using practices such as art and drama, people often feel safer to express things they might otherwise keep hidden, and can uncover surprising insights into what is going on for them.
transformational counselling
Transformational Counselling is a holistic approach to therapy that honors and invites us to explore our innermost feelings and needs. This work is oriented towards guiding clients into their bodily sense of knowing, tuning in to a deeper sense of ones personal truth, and exploring the messages our bodies hold for us.
It involves slowly and gently inquiring into messages from our body through a process called "focusing". Focusing is similar to meditation, but is a little more active as it involves sensing into your body, as well as dialogue.
In this work we often work with "parts", also known as Internal Family Systems Therapy.
Transformational Counselling integrates extremely well with the here and now approach of Gestalt, and most of the work I do is rooted in these two approaches.
It involves slowly and gently inquiring into messages from our body through a process called "focusing". Focusing is similar to meditation, but is a little more active as it involves sensing into your body, as well as dialogue.
In this work we often work with "parts", also known as Internal Family Systems Therapy.
Transformational Counselling integrates extremely well with the here and now approach of Gestalt, and most of the work I do is rooted in these two approaches.
recovery Model
By using a Recovery Model approach I support clients to define for themselves what makes their lives meaningful. This approach emphasizes that mental health recovery is possible, and that it is also possible to live well, even if symptoms persist. "Recovery", is a personal journey of getting to know yourself and figuring out what works for you.
This approach can often feel liberating and empowering as it supports people where they are and builds upon the strengths they already posses.
As we take a look at the internalized expectations we hold ourselves to, we can evaluate whether these expectations are serving us. It is possible to release ourselves from the often painful grip of these imposed standards to better accept and embrace who are now, and how we want to live.
"Wellness" is a very individual and personal experience, and one persons idea of what makes them "well" might look very different from someone else's. Through our work together, I hope to empower you to define for yourself the way you want to live and support you towards creating that life for yourself.
This approach can often feel liberating and empowering as it supports people where they are and builds upon the strengths they already posses.
As we take a look at the internalized expectations we hold ourselves to, we can evaluate whether these expectations are serving us. It is possible to release ourselves from the often painful grip of these imposed standards to better accept and embrace who are now, and how we want to live.
"Wellness" is a very individual and personal experience, and one persons idea of what makes them "well" might look very different from someone else's. Through our work together, I hope to empower you to define for yourself the way you want to live and support you towards creating that life for yourself.
Solution-focused counselling
Solution-Focused Counselling takes a Strengths Based approach in discovering and honoring the skills and resources you already posses. I apply Anti-Oppressive theory by acknowledging that vast majority of human struggles are a by-product of living in a very complicated and challenging world and are never a matter of personal failing.
Using a Solution-Focused approach to counselling we will take a look at the bigger picture of your life and figure out what is and isn't working for you, as well as what you want, and don't want in your life. Once we have a sense of what areas are causing trouble for you - as well as what you would rather see instead, we will work together to discover what internal and external supports and resources you have, need, or would like to find, to create a life that works for you.
I believe there is no "right" way to live life, but instead, that we can find and create a way that works for each of us.
Using a Solution-Focused approach to counselling we will take a look at the bigger picture of your life and figure out what is and isn't working for you, as well as what you want, and don't want in your life. Once we have a sense of what areas are causing trouble for you - as well as what you would rather see instead, we will work together to discover what internal and external supports and resources you have, need, or would like to find, to create a life that works for you.
I believe there is no "right" way to live life, but instead, that we can find and create a way that works for each of us.
hypnotherapy/Guided Visualization
You might like to include guided visualizations or hypnotherapy in our work together. These processes can be very useful towards shifting habitual thought patterns into ones that are more supportive for you.
There are a variety of ways we can work aspects of hypnotherapy into our sessions. If this is something you are interested in, I can explain more about it in our sessions. For now, read a little more about how it works below.
About Hypnotherapy/Guided Visualizations
We often get stuck in places we don't want to be in life because of the pervasive habits of our thoughts over years. Lessons or words that we have internalized at a young age (or at any age really!) can be believed to be the "truth" about us. These "lessons" have a way of imprinting on us and can prevent us from moving forward in new directions.
It is sometimes useful to enter a very relaxed or meditative state in order to connect with our inner knowing and innate capacity to heal and grow. This also gives us time to spend with ourselves, listen to messages from our bodies, and respect who we are and where we have been, while we imagine new possibilities and reinforce thought patterns that better support our well being.
Material for the guided visualization will be informed by your answers to a series of questions I ask around the issue we are addressing. It is completely personalized. These questions involve imagining realistic, yet hopeful, versions of yourself (how will you look, feel, think, and what you might be doing), considering obstacles that might come up along the way, and addressing how you might overcome these obstacles. In fact, answering these questions even without the visualization/hypnosis process, can be extremely useful.
Hypnotherapy, Mindfullness, and Guided Visualization processes are supported by scientific research in neuroplasticity and mind/body connection.
There are a variety of ways we can work aspects of hypnotherapy into our sessions. If this is something you are interested in, I can explain more about it in our sessions. For now, read a little more about how it works below.
About Hypnotherapy/Guided Visualizations
We often get stuck in places we don't want to be in life because of the pervasive habits of our thoughts over years. Lessons or words that we have internalized at a young age (or at any age really!) can be believed to be the "truth" about us. These "lessons" have a way of imprinting on us and can prevent us from moving forward in new directions.
It is sometimes useful to enter a very relaxed or meditative state in order to connect with our inner knowing and innate capacity to heal and grow. This also gives us time to spend with ourselves, listen to messages from our bodies, and respect who we are and where we have been, while we imagine new possibilities and reinforce thought patterns that better support our well being.
Material for the guided visualization will be informed by your answers to a series of questions I ask around the issue we are addressing. It is completely personalized. These questions involve imagining realistic, yet hopeful, versions of yourself (how will you look, feel, think, and what you might be doing), considering obstacles that might come up along the way, and addressing how you might overcome these obstacles. In fact, answering these questions even without the visualization/hypnosis process, can be extremely useful.
Hypnotherapy, Mindfullness, and Guided Visualization processes are supported by scientific research in neuroplasticity and mind/body connection.
If any of these approaches sound like they might be a good fit for you, I invite you to contact me to set up an appointment. Together we will discuss some of your reasons for coming to therapy and create a plan for working together.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea)