COUNSELLING APPROACH
Working from a strength-based approach, I have an underlying belief in my clients' knowledge and expertise about themselves. I integrate this perspective with other approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Positive Psychology, and Solution Focused Therapy to support my clients' work toward their preferred futures. Below, I provide a description of the general process I use to help clients create lasting change.
CONNECT
Establishing a foundation of trust between therapist and client is important. I work from a non-judgmental and curious stance to gain a thorough understanding of what you're experiencing, how it's affecting your life, and what you hope to gain from counselling. Connection is also about the process of understanding and committing to your values and aligning your goals accordingly.
EXPLORE
With a foundation of trust and understanding, we are free to engage in a creative process to explore different ways of making change. I help clients explore various perspectives and behaviours as well as consider possible benefits and obstacles that may arise when making changes. Agreed upon exercises and strategies, practiced between sessions, will allow us to determine how these changes fit with your goals.
CREATE
Creating lasting change involves using these three steps in a feedback loop. Exploring and assessing how different changes affect your life provides a deeper understanding of what's important to you. This allows you to let go of ideas that no longer benefit you, as well as refine and commit to new ways of being that fit with your values and authentic self, leading to lasting change.