Just as our body knows how to heal a physical wound, it also knows how to heal from mental health injuries and trauma. It just may be experiencing barriers to healing, such as patterns or ways of being that are no longer helpful, toxic relationships/environments, difficulty making sense of experiences, lack of safety (physical/emotional/spiritual etc). Therapy can be seen as helping to create optimal conditions and environment for healing to take place. It’s like getting stitches in a safe, clean and supportive setting. Do we want to get stitches? Probably not. But will it help our bodies complete the healing process? Definitely.
I have experience working with clients presenting with many concerns and use theoretical approaches from a handful of perspectives including narrative, person-centered, and Adlerian therapy. The process of counselling is unique for every individual and is a collaborative process between the client and the clinician. My job is to walk alongside you in your journey to wellness, satisfaction, and self-discovery while shining lights on parts of your story that demonstrate your other ways of being that are empowered. All that being said, my approach to therapy is quite simply “human”; I bring myself into the therapy room to meet with other humans. This allows me to develop genuine, authentic connections and trust with clients, and I use humour, laughter, and self-disclosure when appropriate. Healing doesn’t have to be painful all the time. I tend to be curious about family narrative, roles in relationships and families, world-view/belief systems, metaphors, mind-body symbolism and connection, symbols and imagery within dreams, and the integration of non-ordinary states of consciousness.
I am also a certified laughter yoga leader, an aspiring improv comedian, an actor, a writer, and a dodgeball player. One day, I hope to work in the film industry as a consultant for accurate depictions of psychotherapy in cinema to debunk myths and misconceptions about the field of psychology.
