Psychological Services

Much of my work has used the cognitive-behavioral model, also known as CBT, and I have seen how well it works. However, my approach is also strongly shaped by feminism, an understanding of cultural influences, and a focus on how people develop over time. I believe that people’s challenges are heavily influenced by the systems around them, their personal relationships, how they think, and how they react to their environment. So, when I conceptualize a client's issues, I always think about the context in which their problems started. I believe that mental health issues often develop as a way to cope, even if those same behaviours later create more problems. This perspective shows how important it is to provide clients with a safe and accepting space in therapy, so they can overcome the personal and mental barriers to change.

 

I work together with clients to set goals early on, while also staying open to changes as our relationship develops and new themes come up. I encourage clients to take the lead in setting these goals and deciding the order in which they work through them. My goal is to create a supportive environment where clients can learn to be kinder to themselves. While I use many different therapeutic tools, compassion and acceptance are always at the heart of my approach.