My Philosophy of Therapy
Regardless of your past and current struggles, creating a better future is possible, even if you are doubtful.
When your problems have existed for a long time, and you’ve not seen much improvement, it’s understandable that you might be skeptical about being able to improve your life.
However, the fact that you are reaching out for help shows you have courage and a desire for a better life, and this is the first step.
Through individual or couples therapy, you can gain deeper insight into your emotional responses, develop healthier coping methods, and navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and resilience.
Your engagement and willingness to explore your emotions during therapy are essential for healing and growth.
Schedule Your Free Inquiry Call
My Therapy Style
Whether you work with me in individual therapy or couples therapy, below are some key features of my therapy style.
Create a Safe, Comfortable Space:
I create a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space where you can explore your feelings and experiences and manage distressing emotions as you work towards healing.
Customized Therapy Approach:
My therapy sessions are tailored to your unique needs, ensuring you receive the most benefits possible.
Meet You Where You Are At:
I aim to understand and respect your current situation while supporting you in setting the direction and goals for our sessions.
Focus on Your Strengths:
We’ll develop strategies that leverage your strengths to help you overcome your problems. We’ll help you transform emotional difficulties and resolve conflicts within yourself and your relationships.
Therapy Approaches
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is one of the most utilized approaches to help resolve distressing or traumatic experiences. It enables you to process and integrate traumatic memories, reducing the emotional impact and promoting healing.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT empowers you to accept your thoughts and emotions without judgment. It enhances mental well-being by helping you accept what is out of your control and commit to actions that align with your values, leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT offers practical skills to manage intense emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviours. It combines cognitive-behavioural techniques (CBT) with mindfulness practices, enhancing your ability to manage distressing emotions, and improving mental health and overall well-being.
Polyvagal Theory (PVT)
Polyvagal Theory helps you achieve a sense of calm and safety, enabling you to stay present and focused on what is important to you. PVT emphasizes the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating emotional and physiological states to enhance your ability to remain calm and connected, even in stressful situations.
The Gottman Approach to Couples Therapy
The Gottman Method of couples therapy focuses on building strong relationships by enhancing communication, increasing emotional intimacy, and resolving conflicts constructively. It leads to a deeper connection and lasting relationship satisfaction.
Relational Life Couples Therapy (RLT)
RLT focuses on breaking destructive patterns and fostering genuine intimacy and connection. This approach helps partners develop authentic communication, mutual respect, and emotional closeness by addressing individual and relational issues.
Therapy Process
Below is a summary of how we may work together using the therapy approaches described above.
- Complimentary Consultation: We begin with a free, 15-minute inquiry phone call [link to Contact page]. You can tell me your concerns and struggles, and I’ll let you know how to best support you in overcoming them.
- Initial Appointment: Once we decide to work together, we’ll set up our first therapy session. During the session, I’ll gather background information, identify your strengths, and pinpoint areas of vulnerability. We’ll then create a plan to overcome your distress and relationship problems.
- Develop Emotional Resilience: We’ll work on enhancing your ability to manage distressing emotions so you feel in control of them instead of overwhelmed by them. Managing your feelings helps you cope better in life and have better relationships.
- Engaging with Past Difficult Experiences: We’ll reprocess past distressing experiences so you can move forward more easily.
- Letting Go: We’ll work together to help you let go of past pain and develop peace with your past difficulties. Healing involves acknowledging the hurt you’ve experienced and then moving beyond it.
- Applying Strengths: We’ll apply your newfound strengths to challenging situations and help you cope in your relationships.
- Look Forward to the Future: We’ll help you look to your future with confidence, hope, and new awareness and skills.
I understand that seeking therapy can feel daunting, but once you take that first step, it can be incredibly empowering and transformative.
Book your free, 15-minute inquiry call now to start your journey towards greater emotional well-being and a better life.
*I work with clients online via video conference or in my therapy office in Calgary, Alberta.