You are far from broken. You are neither dysfunctional nor flawed. You are a symphony of biology, experience, relationships, aspirations... and it is important to remember that you are ever changing...
My Approach
Using a variety of therapeutic techniques combined with psycho-education, I work collaboratively with you to explore your influential experiences and their consequential effects on the beliefs and behavioral responses that contribute to your relational life both personally and professionally. I am influenced by theories grounded in evolutionary psychology, epigenetics, neuroscience, and sociobiology.
Adaptation is a lifelong process. Integrating knowledge and experience can have a profound effect on healing and ultimately contributes to new ways of responding. By illuminating the factors that inform how we make sense of our world, we learn to reconcile the past; expand the available tools necessary to navigate our present; and increase a sense of autonomy in our future. In my practice, I deal primarily with persistent patterns of behavior as well as individuals who may have been diagnosed with, or have concerns around, mood and/or personality disorders. These can include concerns around anger, anxiety, depression, trauma, or re-occurring patterns in your life that in turn effect decision making, relationships, and general vitality.
“The human brain is an amazing organ, capable of continual growth and lifelong adaptation to an ever-changing array of challenges. Our understanding of how the brain accomplishes this mandate increases with each new theoretical development and technological advance. At the same time, we are uncovering some of natural selection’s more problematic choices. If necessity is the mother of invention, then evolution itself has created the necessity for psychotherapy by shaping a brain that is vulnerable to a wide array of difficulties.
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Common THerapuetic Outcomes
Counselling is intended to bring deeper personal insight and awareness; solutions to or better ways of understanding and coping with problems; improved relationships; reductions in feelings of distress; and greater insight into personal goals and values. You should be aware that this usually requires that you be willing to examine and discuss difficult topics or times in your life, to experience stronger than usual emotions, and to try out new and different behavioral/coping strategies. Uncomfortable feelings (anger, sadness, guilt, grief, loss, frustration, anxiety, etc.) may result. However, you ultimately get to decide what we discuss and work with.
Counselling will not eliminate problems in your life – rather, a typical goal for counselling is to feel less overwhelmed and to increase resilience. You will gain insight and tools to appropriately regulate emotional response to life events and/or adversity. You will enhance clarity into your own thoughts and behaviors, increase compassion for self and others, and discover ways to more authentically communicate. The effects of counselling are exponential and generally permeate all aspects of one’s life.