Psychotherapy Approach
I believe in offering evidence-based care to my clients and over the years have prioritized my professional development as a clinician. My therapeutic approach is grounded in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have completed extensive training in ACT however I also integrate interventions from other approaches in my practice, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and principles from attachment theory, in order to meet the needs of my clients.
Choose a Direction.
Sometimes people come to therapy because they feel unfulfilled and are not sure how to create the change they want. Other times, people have a clear vision for the direction of their life but they are struggling to overcome the internal obstacles getting in the way of their goals. I often work with clients who are struggling to overcome rigid patterns of avoidance. The beginning of therapy brings the opportunity to develop a clearer sense of what is important to you as well as what is getting in the way. Through this exploration, you can choose specific and achievable goals that will help move you in the direction you want to go.
Be Intentional.
As humans, we often instinctively resist or avoid what’s uncomfortable. When we live reactively, we can lose sight of opportunities to be intentional about committing to our goals and values. This can move us away from the life we want to live.
When we notice having strayed from our path, it can be helpful to examine the function of our choices and behaviours. Once we have a better understanding of how certain patterns have served us throughout our lives, we can develop a clearer motivational system, or the ‘why’, behind why we might want to learn new ways of responding to life’s challenges. Developing this awareness can be helpful for cultivating compassion and understanding towards our experiences and struggles.
Live Meaningfully.
Engaging in therapy can not only help you clarify what you want to do, but also who and how you want to be as you take steps towards your goals. Once we have a greater sense of our goals, what’s important to us, and what’s getting in the way, the ongoing work becomes continuing to refocus on our valued directions. This can involve finding new ways of engaging with unhelpful patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in order to make it easier to choose to do what matters. I aim to support my clients in connecting with their internal resources and to empower them to develop new skills if needed to move them closer to their goals, and ultimately a more meaningful life.