My Approach to Therapy
My therapeutic approach for individual counselling is client centred and inspired by David Burns’ TEAM (Testing, Empathy, Agenda Setting, Methods) Model. In our first session and throughout therapy, you can expect me to listen to you and respond with empathy and understanding. Once I have listened to your story and understand your struggles, we can begin to set goals and set an agenda for our work together. This phase of therapy may also involve exploring some of the factors that can make change difficult. Sometimes these obstacles may not be obvious at first, but once they are addressed, we are in a great position to do successful work together. We can then work towards change by building awareness of recurring patterns, gaining insight, and by using evidence based methods drawn from various therapeutic modalities. These methods and interventions are carefully selected based on both what the difficulty is, and best fit for you. I often draw on interventions from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Emotion-Focussed Therapy.
I see therapy as a collaborative process. Each client’s goals for therapy are unique. It is important that we work together to develop goals that are achievable, realistic, and congruent with your values and wishes. I believe that you should be in the driver’s seat of therapy. As the driver, you determine what we work on. We will collaborate in setting achievable and realistic goals and I will help you build a map and develop the most efficient direction for how to get from here to there. Sometimes there is a clear destination, and other times, your journey may be more of an exploration with a trusted companion. You get to steer the wheel or put the brakes on if you ever want to change direction or stop. As the driver, therapy is your journey. The road is rarely an easy one, but we are in it together. My role is to join you and both witness and facilitate your road to personal growth and change.
I see therapy as a collaborative process. Each client’s goals for therapy are unique. It is important that we work together to develop goals that are achievable, realistic, and congruent with your values and wishes. I believe that you should be in the driver’s seat of therapy. As the driver, you determine what we work on. We will collaborate in setting achievable and realistic goals and I will help you build a map and develop the most efficient direction for how to get from here to there. Sometimes there is a clear destination, and other times, your journey may be more of an exploration with a trusted companion. You get to steer the wheel or put the brakes on if you ever want to change direction or stop. As the driver, therapy is your journey. The road is rarely an easy one, but we are in it together. My role is to join you and both witness and facilitate your road to personal growth and change.
I appreciate the importance of finding a therapist who provides a feeling of trust and safety where it is okay to express painful and vulnerable emotions. When that safety is felt, clients tend to find that they are better able to delve into more profound emotions and insights, hone their strengths and develop strategies to help them live and feel better.
My approach to Couples Counselling is based on Gottman Method Couples Therapy with pearls of Emotion Focused Therapy blended in. Gottman Method Couples Therapy was developed on the basis of 30 years of research on what makes relationships succeed. Therapy involves a thorough assessment of the relationship, followed by research-based interventions. These interventions were designed to help couples move communication from painful exchanges to healthy discussion; strengthen friendship and intimacy as well as deepen emotional connection, shared meaning and goals.