Find a Therapist in West Point Grey, British Columbia.

Psychotherapy is another word for counselling. The main feature of counselling is that clients tell their story, and are validated and not judged by the counsellor.In all of my professional development courses I have heard over and over again that the counselling relationship is the healing tool for the client. Being heard and not being judged are what helps clients heal.Counselling/psychotherapy can be absolutely life changing!!

I bring 16 years of experience to better help clients come to their own solutions to the struggles they face. Each client is unique, and needs a unique approach to their marriage, family or individual issues. To this end, I use an integrative, collaborative and effective approach using well researched approaches to better help clients achieve the results they want. The benefits that I can offer clients is helping you achieve more peace and happiness in your marriage, family or self. You may learn more effective ways to communicate and relate to people around you. By working together we can find the answers you seek. Contact me today to get the life you want.

Psychotherapy with me is client centered. This means that I look at you as someone who is the expert in your own life. My role is to come alongside you, to reflect some of what I hear you say, and offer insights that can point you back toward solutions that you inherently know to be true. Sometime we just need to process our thoughts and emotions verbally in a way that points us toward the next right thing.

Psychotherapy can be effective and greatly beneficial for couples, individuals and families. We strive to create a safe and understanding environment where we work in a collaborative manor based on your goals and needs. We will work with a variety of techniques tailored to your specific needs providing optimal results. Through psychotherapy you can begin to see yourself and your world through a non partial and neutral lens. Through the clarity and acceptance of your authentic self we will work to build your tools for ongoing personal growth and success, independent of counselling.

My professional credential is Registered Therapeutic Counsellor not psychotherapist. However I have extensive experience with the tools of psychotherapy including: attachment healing, somatic attunement, object relations, ego state therapy, and depth psychology. I integrate the Diamond Approach, a system for spiritual and psychological maturation, into my work with clients. A core tenet I experience daily is: we each have an individual soul with unlimited potential to free ourselves from limiting aspects of personality, inherited trauma and old beliefs. I've been a student of the Diamond Approach since 1989 and am grateful to the teachers, teachings, and our community of lovers of truth.

My psychotherapy approach places emphasis on exploring, understanding and feeling more connected to your emotions. I also work from an attachment-based model which can be really helpful for understand how your past (including childhood) relationships have impacted your current life. Understanding how your past experiences and your emotions impact you is a powerful way to help you make decisions in your life now.

Our thoughts have a huge impact on how we view and act in the world. I will work with you to explore how your thoughts have been influenced by your experiences growing up, as well as by significant life events, loss and/or trauma. I use approaches from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you calm your mind and invite you to consider the possibilty of expanding your perceptions of life experiences as a way of creating changes in yourself and in relationships.

Throughout my life and educational career, I have learned the benefits of understanding how our brain and body develop and impact each other. The brain is like any other body part - when injured or not functioning properly, it requires proper attention and care to heal and strengthen it back to a higher functioning state. It is with this knowledge that we can begin to understand ourselves and our own reactions more. My goal is to help you find a path towards self-compassion and a clearer sense of self, while also working together to seek out alternative solutions to create a healthier mindset.

A holistic approach is used, integrating empathetic listening, evidence-based techniques, and collaborative goal-setting. Clients are encouraged to explore the interaction between our thoughts, feelings (emotions and physical sensations) and actions. Cognitive-behavioural strategies can be used to address patterns, while psychodynamic insights delve into underlying issues. Mindfulness practices may be used to enhance self-awareness and increase our capacity to sit with our feelings and notice our thoughts. The therapeutic relationship, with well defined boundaries, is pivotal in the work we do together.

In the practice of psychotherapy, I believe in an eclectic approach that considers human beings holistically, taking into account emotions, the body, mind, and social and cultural factors. Everyone embarks on a unique journey; at the core of my practice is a commitment to honor the wisdom within each individual and their right to pursue their own path of healing and self-discovery. In this collaborative process, I assist clients in increasing self-awareness, learning skills to manage and express emotions, processing unhelpful feelings and traumatic past experiences, enhancing emotional intelligence, improving relationship satisfaction, and fostering self-empowerment and personal growth.

If you find yourself stuck in patterns around food, relationships or difficult emotions, you're not alone. I offer a calm and confidential space where you can begin to make sense of what you're going through. My work is grounded in attachment and emotion focused approaches, which helps you to understand how your past experiences and relationships shape your present struggle. You may be facing an eating disorder, binge eating, a relationship difficulty or the weighed down by past experiences, we can work together to create meaningful change through practical tools and therapies that support deeper, lasting transformation.

I use a two pronged approach in assisting clients . The first is called CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This is highly used in counselling. It increase a clients awareness and enhances their education and skills. The second component, and I believe the most important, is the Reduction of Emotional Charge connected with the issue. Some times CBT is sufficient to bring about permanent change. But often people relapse because the emotional stimulation/reaction had not been reduced & they default to their old coping mechanisms.

Many people grow up feeling not good enough in themeselves. Their family of origins have taught them that who they were was not acceptable as they were, or not what their parents wanted them to be. As a result, many clients have buried parts of themselves in order to fit in and survive emotionally in their families. People are often fragmented when they come in for psychotherapy. I help clients uncover and reclaim the parts of themselves that they left behind, helping them to feel whole again and resdiscover their true essences and their core selves.