Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that explores and re-evaluates the beliefs, values and narratives that we hold. Throughout our lives we have experiences of stress, trauma, anxiety, grief, or abuse. Overtime we develop stories about ourselves that shapes how we view ourselves, our abilities and how we perceive the world. These narratives often keep us unmotivated, frozen, and immobilized. When we explore the stories we tell ourselves about our life, relationships, and challenges, we can learn to separate ourselves from the problem, and begin to identify more with our actual values. By re-writing the narrative and reframing situations and strengths, we then are able to immobilize the skills and hope needed to overcome the problems in our lives.
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Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS):
IFS is a trauma-informed model of psychotherapy that focuses on healing our inner family system.
In IFS therapists ask questions and make suggestions to help you develop an awareness about your inner system, beginning with self. Throughout our life we develop a system of parts within us that replicate a larger family pattern and legacy. The parts have functionality and positive intentions for us. When we can explore the parts as adaptive functions that we developed to keep us alive, we can view ourself and these parts with compassion and curiosity, and heal the old wounds and stop the patterns.
It is important that the therapist is trauma informed, and has a collaborative and attuned relationship with the client. For some clients who have experienced trauma, this can lead to dissociation and flooding of emotions.
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT):
DBT is a therapy adapted for people who experience emotions intensely. It focuses on the problematic behaviours that result from the unhealthy efforts to control these intense emotions and negative thoughts. By incorporating components of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (focus on understanding unhelpful behavious as well as work towards change) with principles of Mindfulness (acceptance of the reality of the experience). DBT has 2 main components: Acceptance Skills (Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills and Emotion Regulation Skills) and Change Skills (Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance). DBT has proven effectiveness with developing healthier coping mechanisms that in turn maintain and healthier interactions and relationships
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFT):
SFBT is an evidence-based therapy that is goal oriented with a focus on the solutions rather than the problem. This is a strength-based approach that can help you identify existing resources within your family systems. SFBT looks at previous attempts at solutions that now play an important role in client’s perception of what works and what doesn’t. The therapist assumes that clients are the expert in their own lives and already have existing solutions. The therapist and client work together to re-frame, look for exceptions, and build strategies and solutions. With guidance the client begins to re-organize and immobilize their resources to solve the problem.
Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal theory is evidence-based and focuses on the functionality of our nervous system and how this influences the regulation of our health and behaviours. It has 3 core principles: the hierarchy of the nervous system (ANS), neuroception (how we perceive our experiences from the information we take in), and co-regulation. When we start to become aware and identify our emotions, thoughts, feelings, and sensations. We can use these as tools that provide emotional safety from your own centre not from what you hope others will give. This can have a profound effect on daily behaviour and how you respond to intense emotions, distress and challenges.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Attachment theory explores how our early relationships shape our sense of safety, belonging and emotional connection throughout our lives. These early experiences of attachment with our parents and caregivers impact and influence how we understand ourselves in relation to others, cope with challenges, and develop healthy social and emotional functioning. When these early bonds are unresponsive, unsafe, or lack consistency, the nervous system adapts and forms protective mechanisms to keep us safe. Overtime, this impacts secure emotional connections and coping in adulthood. This framework is especially helpful if you are navigating challenging family dynamics, have past trauma or are seeking a deeper understanding of self and others. It is important to consider how this has had lasting impacts on your nervous system, and the way you view the world in response to this.
*Examining these wounds can bring up grief, recreate painful memories, and flood the nervous system. In this model, the therapist is coming from a trauma-informed approach that is regulated, consistent, non-judgemental and compassionate. When the therapist can hold space for you to explore this safely, they are also co-regulating with you, validating your experience and modeling new and healthy ways to get your attachment needs met.
Strategic Family Therapy (SFT)
Strategic family therapy provides a problem-centered, practical theory when working with couples and families. With a focus on identifying the interactions within the family system in order to change them. The cornerstone of SFT is based on how a problem develops within the family. Families get stuck in vicious cycles where they use the same futile attempts repeatedly. Eventually the attempts to deal with the problems unintentionally become part of the maintenance of the unwanted behavioural sequence.
The goal is to define the rules and intention behind the problem sequence, and interrupt it by identifying the feedback loops that continuously perpetrate the problem. With this model, you learn to become more aware of your family dynamics, the roles you play within that system, and practical strategies to create healthier interactions and communication.
Personlized Treatments
My role as a therapist is to provide a safe space to explore with you, while using thoughtful problem solving strategies and therapeutic guidance. I have an honest, direct approach, and the relationship we form is foundational to the work we do in the therapy room. Using an integrative framework that is trauma-informed and holistic can be a very useful way to work with a wide range of issues. Whichever theory we use, my approach is always compassionate, non-judgemental and collaborative with you and your goals. I believe we all have a unique story, and that comes along with the wisdom and capacity to heal ourselves.