My primary goal in counselling is to support clients in their understanding of self. Recognition of individual dignity, value and unique experiences allows one to journey towards self-actualization. Self-actualization focuses on the concept of ‘becoming oneself’, this person centered focus is on realizing one’s full potential. Counselling allows me to help others recognize and enhance their own power to thrive and/or heal. Reflective practice and careful listening allows me to see and hear the pieces of your story that you may be too close to notice.
In my practice of psychotherapy, I incorporate cognitive and behavior therapies as well as psychodynamic therapy, I work with clients to chose and collaborate on appropriate direction through careful formal and informal assessment. Again a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment allows clients to explore their issues and thereby come to new understanding. The varied tools and strategies that psychotherapy offers support change in thought, thought patterns, behavior, and emotional regulation and response. Consistently, psychotherapy results have had a beneficial effect on client functioning.
Skills and direction for ‘lifelong comfort’ can be learned …. In psychology these are sometimes called ‘protective factors’. I am always astounded by individual responses to life experiences, similar experiences can have a debilitating effect on one person and be adaptively handled by another, in the past these differences were often packaged with labels such as weak or strong. Today, we realize and recognize that the human experience is much more complicated than labels. Working on individual, personal, biopsychosocial supports builds personal resilience helping those in need of recovery. The development of this personal resource toolkit both supports healing and proactively supports the acquisition of ‘protective factors’ needed to help during future life experiences.
Two quotes have inspired my work in counselling, education and life.
“AN ENVIABLE LIFE FOR ALL” – Dr. Ann Turnbull
The first I heard at the Geneva Symposium for Autism by a University of Kansas Professor named Dr. Ann Turnbull, her vision was specific to those living with Autism but could be applied to all lives. The phrase that hit me was “an enviable life for all” simple yet powerful. Her focus was on planning for individual lives, unique lives, lives that despite difficulties, disability and barriers were filled with joy, purpose,
What struck me so clearly was that this planning, goal setting and tools must be individual, … professional counselling can help you define those pieces that create your ‘enviable life.’ Dr. Turnbull’s words inspired me to listen so carefully for the individual differences that make each life happily unique, there are no magic solutions because the human condition is so individual. Counselling can provide the active listening and reflection needed to support your life choices and goals.
I no longer try to match problems with solutions – each ‘life solution’ is born within the individual, sometimes accessing it is the greatest difficulty, counselling can help with this. I still look at that quote as a gift, one that I have often turned to when working with those looking to redefine their lives or become unstuck. Her words have also inspired my work with families and individuals planning or caring for family members that have disabilities or other barriers that need creative solutions and guidance to plan for their own “enviable life.”
Although sometimes it looks like each door leads to the same place each can hold a different and yet equally “enviable life”.
“KIDS DO WELL IF THEY CAN” – Dr. Ross Greene
This is another quote that has captured my heart and greatly influenced my approach to others. I have always joked that the ‘cool kids’ follow rockstars and that I follow psychologists… I have followed the work of Dr. Ross Greene for years and had the great pleasure of attending advanced training in his evidence – research based Collaborative Problem Solving Approach in 2013. This quote, although focused on children leads my work with all human beings, I believe, like Greene that all humans would prefer to behave in an adaptive and positive way, when maladaptive behaviours interfere in our lives it often means that the current demands on us are beyond our perceived or actual ability. He encourages us to look for the lagging skills in collaboration with the child, student, client, patient. It takes the focus off of the behavior and looks instead at the skills needed and the skills demanded during periods of maladaptive behavior. I especially love the individualized approach of this methodology.
The individuality of our human experience means that there is no ‘one trick pony’ when it comes to mental health and wellness. Sensory issues are often overlooked because they are less visible / recognizable. Stressors or demanded skills can be in any of the different areas that make us human like biological, emotional, cognitive, social, pro-social some of the difficulties in these areas are more easily identified than others. Counselling can aid both with the recognition of these stressors and with the support needed to proactively enhance your ability to handle them.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND MEMBERSHIPS
COLLEGE OF REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPISTS
Registered Psychotherapist
Membership Number 007317
CANADIAN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION
CCC # 14011
Professionally Insured – BMS Insurance
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
- Refugee Mental Health Course – Through CAMH
- Suicide Talk Workshop
- Community Threat Assessment Training Level 1
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Fetal Alcohol Two Day Conference
- Collaborative Problem Solving Advanced Training – Dr. Ross Greene
- Ontario Shores Mental Health Pilot -Gatekeeping and Triage
- ADHD Workshop, Dr. Nugent
- Social Skills Development – Youth Living With ASD (KINARK)
- Language Impairment Training
- Geneva Symposium Autism – Toronto, Ontario