My areas of specialization include, but are not limited to:
- Trauma resolution & PTSD recovery
- Recovery from sexual assault
- Recovery from childhood sexual abuse
- Recovery from childhood attachment wounds and neglect
- Recovery from car accidents
- Reclaiming control over anxiety and panic
- Reclaiming control of anger
- Moving through depression
- Grief and loss
- Navigating life changes
- Addiction recovery
- Working with First Responders
- Working with social workers, therapists, and counsellors
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)
The Somatic Experiencing® (SE) method is a body-oriented therapy approach to the healing of trauma, PTSD, and other stress disorders. SE integrates body awareness into the psychotherapeutic process, taking a unique approach not used by other PTSD treatment methods. The focus of the therapy is on creating awareness of inner physical sensations, which are seen as the carriers of the traumatic memory. It is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine, resulting from his multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, together with over 45 years of successful clinical application. The SE approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma. (quoted from https://traumahealing.org/about-us/#about)
Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization (EMDR)
EMDR is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. (quoted from http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/)
Accelerate Resolution Therapy (ART) Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidenced based therapy for the treatment of trauma and other related disorders. In this unique approach to psychotherapy the ART Therapist guides the client to replace the negative images in the mind that cause the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress with positive images of the client’s choosing. Once the negative images have been replaced by positive ones, the triggers will be gone. ART is also unique in that it combines the power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s mind with well-established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy and Guided Imagery. One of the special aspects of ART is that clients don’t need to talk to the therapist about any details of the trauma. This is because ART is procedural, and uses the creative aspects of our subconscious. In this process, the client is in control of the process, while the ART Therapist is a helpful guide. This makes the therapy easier on the client and easier on the therapist. (Adapted from: https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Skills Training
DBT is a form of therapy that focuses on problem solving and acceptance based strategies. Although this form of therapy was originally developed to assist individuals with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), it is now recognized to assist individuals with a range of mental health and substance-related concerns. DBT focuses on four primary areas of functioning: Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Mindfulness. The purpose of DBT is to assist in the development of appropriate coping mechanisms and enable integration of skills throughout an individuals life (e.g. home, school, work, and within the community). This approach looks to assist individuals with the reduction of problematic behaviour that might be negatively contributing to their daily functioning. A full DBT program includes a team focus, group work, and a structured system of skills delivery. I do not provide a full DBT program, rather, I incorporate DBT skill teaching into my therapy practice. If you are seeking a full DBT program, please seek a referral to programs in our public health system through your family doctor or psychiatrist.
(Adapted from: Behaviour Tech.)