Counselling Methods

How We Partner to Transform Your Life

I have trained in several evidence-based, enduring, and effective counselling methods including:

IFS (Internal Family Systems) Therapy

IFS is a powerfully transformative, evidence-based psychotherapy method that deepens self-awareness, self-connection, and self-compassion; and metamorphosizes our relationship with our self and others.

The mind is not monolithic, it is naturally multiple. Each of us has our hurt, angry, critical and impulsive parts. They might live alongside our playful, organized, and ambitious parts. Each of these parts possess valuable qualities, information, and positive intentions for us. These parts make up your internal family system.

Imagine being the leader of the system instead of being dominated by any one of the parts!

We’ve all experienced moments of clarity and balance when the incessant chattering in our heads abates, we feel centred and confident. We’ve also experienced moments of heartfelt connection with others when joy and compassion replace fear, distrust, shame, and anger. This harmonious state reflects what lies at the core of every person: an undamaged, resourceful Self.

Those moments when we feel calm and centered, filled with clarity and deeply connected with others, we are connected with our core, the Self. Accessing and working with the Self is a non-pathologizing, safe, effective way to heal those anxious, depressed, angry, vulnerable and hurt parts;
transforming us from being fragmented and conflicted, to being integrated and whole.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and BSP (Brainspotting)

EMDR, a well-researched, evidence-based treatment, and its offshoot, BSP, are effective treatments for processing distressing memories, trauma, and PTSD.

EMDR and BSP provide rapid access to loosely associated memories and images from the past enabling you to integrate traumatic and other adverse life experiences into a larger context or new perspective.

With my guidance and support, while focusing on the here and now, you will walk through your distressing memories and process them with minimized distress. Your brain’s creative healing capacity will be quickly accessed without you having to talk extensively about the distressing issue.

The adverse experience will be remembered but the fight, flight, freeze responses connected with the incident will be metabolized. This reintegration enables you to live your life free of the symptoms of trauma.

Polyvagal Theory (PVT)

We all benefit from having a basic understanding how our autonomic nervous system (ANS) works. PVT is a theory of how the ANS works.

Our ANS is the foundation of our lived experience. Functioning below the level of consciousness, it determines whether to engage our primitive survival system – fight, flight, freeze or collapse – or our mammalian social engagement system –ease, calm, joy, and connection.

Only after this split-second biological reaction has occurred do we become consciously aware of what’s happening. Then the story of our experience begins.

Our experiences in life can impact our ANS in such a way that we struggle to feel safe and at ease in our bodies.

Together we will safely explore your patterns of activation, disconnection, and social engagement. You will discover ways for your ANS to co-regulate and self-regulate with greater ease enabling you to move out of the need for protection - and instead to embody a system that finds joy in connection with self and others.

 Learn how to reliably reshape your nervous system and begin rewriting the stories you’ve created about yourself. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a well-researched, evidence-based intervention that assumes maladaptive thoughts cause distressing emotions and unhelpful behaviours. CBT is present focused; paying particular attention to your self-talk and how it influences your feelings and behaviours. CBT is a life changing skill that helps you identify, analyze, and reconsider your non-supportive and negative thoughts.