Therapy Techniques
Several theories inform my approach. Depending on your needs, I may rely on one more than another.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is a respectful, non-blaming approach that allows you to be the expert in your own life. You maintain the control and direction of the session. I take a stance of curiosity within the therapeutic relationship, acknowledging your strengths, skills and resiliency.
You are separate from the “problem-saturated stories” in your life. My role is to explore your situation from many angles. This helps to externalize the problem, ultimately yielding a new awareness of your story as a whole — and helping you in turn feel more integrated.
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Emotion-Focused Therapy is based on the principles of emotion theory and attachment theory.
Emotion theory is grounded in the belief that emotions are connected to your most essential needs and have an innately adaptive and transformative potential that can help you change problematic emotional states or unwanted self-experiences. They alert you to important situations and guide you to take action towards meeting your needs.
Attachment theory focuses on relationship and attachment styles, which you tend to develop in your first few years of life. How you experienced relationships in those early years affects how you experience relationships now. Understanding your attachment style and how to work with it can help you regulate and soothe emotional distress.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy approach based on the theory that emotional difficulties and mental health concerns stem from traumatic experiences, past abuse or disturbing life events. This often results in the impairment of your innate ability to process and integrate the experience within the central nervous system. EMDR helps you let go of these painful experiences, memories or beliefs.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, through either eye movements or alternating pulsating paddles, which helps the brain process traumatic experiences. It’s believed that EMDR is similar to REM sleep, which is when you process your experiences from the day. You don’t need to talk about the trauma — EMDR activates your brain’s natural ability to process again and gets you “unstuck” from the trauma.
Internal Family Systems
The Internal Family Systems model helps you heal by listening inside yourself in a new way to different “parts” — feelings or thoughts — and unburdening yourself of the extreme beliefs, emotions, sensations and urges that constrain your life. As this process unfolds, you are better able to lead your life from a centred, confident and compassionate place.