I know your pain…
You have tried to solve your problems on your own many times before this point…
You may have tried books, pamphlets, TV, self help, medical doctors, friends and family, mental health programs, and possibly other therapists… There has probably been some successes along the way - things that have worked for at least a little while.
Yet you do not feel that anyone has connected with you… your whole person, your journey, your unique story... Your pain goes on and at least at times (possibly most of the time) it feels like no one cares.
Take heart, those limited successes are things we can build on, and the things that didn't work are also useful as we work on finding what will work for you. My philosophy is “Life happens… and I can help”
I have specialized training in addictions of all types – particularly process addictions like gambling, the internet, gaming, sex, or pornography.
But your problems are most likely compounded by multiple issues – or you would have solved them by yourself some time ago…
So over my 40+ years of practice I have learned to help with many other related issues like:
· Relationship problems
· Trauma (physical, sexual, or mental abuse –exposure to domestic violence, etc.)
· Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
· Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
· Parenting issues
· Career, life changes, and spiritual questions of meaning or purpose
· And of course, anger, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, etc.
Therapeutic approach:
My clients have noticed that I use a lot of humor, metaphors, and stories in my therapy. It is often nice to take a lighter approach to the hard issues of life... We work together to produce a safe environment - a peaceful location and a quiet respect for you and your story - and pace the work so that you are not overwhelmed by too much work at once.
Research shows that the best therapeutic results come from the relationship with the therapist - not the specific techniques used. If you can't feel safe, trust or fit well with your therapist - you need to keep looking until you find a therapist that does fit well for you. I have over 40 years’ experience providing solutions to a wide range of clients with often very complex problems. I find that relaxation and meditation techniques are very helpful in reducing the stress that accompanies most clients’ problems. Not everyone responds to the same techniques the same way so I have literally hundreds of different relaxation techniques… and we keep trying until you find several that work for you.
We now have a new tool for treatment - a float pod. Called variously "floating" "float therapy" or "REST" (Reduced Environmental Simulation Therapy) this is a small pool with 10 inches of water + 1,100 lbs of Epsom salt warmed to skin temperature with controls for LED lighting, music etc. Anyone with meditation experience loves them and those with no meditation or relaxation skills quickly become relaxed and experience a peace and calm that is hard to believe until you try it.
As you can see I am an eclectic therapist – which means I “beg, borrow, and steal” from many different therapeutic traditions to provide the therapy that works for you. I use what is known as the Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual process of therapy – which means that I expect you to be unique and to have your own story about how you got to where you are today. Therefore, your solution will also need to be tailored specifically to you. No one size fits all treatment here!
More about me:
I completed my PhD in psychology focusing on addictions because I am interested in research and never stop seeking new opportunities to learn more about helping my clients. While I have formally trained as a master’s level counsellor, I have also worked as a director of a day psychiatric program and a community family social worker.
I am proud to be a grandfather, and father, having been married to the same woman for over 40 years … and counting.
What next:
Call the office as soon as possible so we can book a short conversation about your problem.
The conversation gives both of us a chance to form a first impression about whether or not we might have a good therapeutic “fit” between us. It lets us know if we should move forward to setting a first session or not.