Therapeutic Approaches

To develop a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs, a general assessment is completed during the intake session.

 

During this session, I will:
 

• Ask questions to learn about your current concerns
   

• Gather any relevant history 
   

• Identify goals for treatment 
   

• Start to determine the most effective therapeutic approach​

CBT has shown to be effective for treating a range of concerns including depression and anxiety. It is based on the premise that the psychological difficulties are due to or maintained by unhelpful thinking or behaviors.

 
In CBT, we learn to:

 

• Observe, monitor, and challenge our thoughts and behaviors
   

• We identify healthier and more effective ways of coping
   

• Apply learnt skills and strategies in your day-to-day life

EMDR has been shown to be helpful for those who have experienced a traumatic or highly distressing event. EMDR is based on the premise that if traumatic events have not been appropriately processed, they can continue to affect our day-to-day life, including our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behavior.

 

EMDR helps us by:
 

• Using bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional intensity of experiences
   

• Helping to develop and incorporate more adaptive insights and perspectives into our lives

ACT has been shown to help treat several mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and chronic pain. It is based on the premise that psychological suffering is caused by the avoidance of our inner thoughts and feelings, which can exacerbate our suffering.

 

Using ACT, we:

• Create a life that is rich and meaningful while accepting the pain that inevitably comes with it

• Learn to be more in tune with and accepting of our thoughts and feelings 

• Connect with our values

• Commit to approaching life in ways that are consistent with these values, improving life satisfaction

The Gottman Approach to couples therapy includes: 
 

• Completing an assessment to learn where a couple may be stuck
   

• Identifying patterns and barriers that may be hindering the relationship
   

• Learning skills to improve communication, navigate conflict and strengthen connection
   

• Working towards common goals 

The EFT approach includes: 

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• Supporting couples from an attachment lens 
   

• Helping couples to identify patterns that lead to ongoing distress and difficulties in their relationship
   

• Learning new skills to respond and interact with your partner in a healthier and more helpful manner and breaking old patterns
   

• Work towards feeling more connected and bonded to your partner