Attachment Focused EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful source to heal from trauma. It opens windows to past memories, emotions, body sensations and beliefs, allowing to be repressed and new meaning attached. EMDR integrates the mind and body with bilateral stimulation, allowing memories that are stored, allowing shifts to occur in meaning and healing of psychological and emotional pain.

Attachment-focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) emphasizes a reparative therapeutic relationship integrating a combination of Resource Tapping™ (Parnell, 2008), EMDR, and talk therapy.

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a revolutionay humanistic approach to psychotherapy that integrates the theory of adult attachment. Attachment theory encompasses developmental needs, personality and intimate relationships. This approach honours the belief that personal distress, dysfunction and health is grounded in our biological need for connection, loving relationships and family bonds.

Humans are innately relational and social beings that are wired for attachment and driven to connect and maintain intimate bonds with loved ones. The EFT model prioritizes emotional responses as the key to understanding safe and secure relational interactions.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy is a creative approach that allows clients to gain a deeper understanding of their core beliefs and values.. Through this, clients are able to reflect on how their current circumstances align with these beliefs and the insight into what changes are necessary to create a harmonious balance. With this understanding, clients find hope in their ability to aligns their values, which may require confrontation of current behaviour, reflection of desired future, and identification of necessary change. Creative techniques such as externalization, enable clients to embrace what they have control over and what is not theirs to own. In essence, embracing that they are not the problem - the problem is the problem!

Image by RhondaK Native Florida Folk Art

Expressive Art Therapy

Expressive arts therapy is a progressive approach to addressing life’s challenges. Creative modalities include painting, poetry, song writing, drawing, photography, music, sculpting or even movement. Creative expression allows spaces to open within the mind and body. Through this, ideas, beliefs and hope to magnify and healing begins.

Part of the process is for clients to give voice, stories, and movement to creative pieces, allowing mean to unfold. Integrating the healing power of artistic expression broadens insight, cultivates deeper connections to self and other, and inspires change.

Solution Focused Therapy

Those who are looking for an approach that is goal focused my be receptive to Solution Focused Therapy. This approach allows clients to take responsibility to solve their problems through a collaborative and reflective process. By focusing on choice and the ability to influence change in the future, clients can find hope to influence current issues.

Therapeutic Apporah

My Approach

My counselling approach is grounded in the evidence-based practices of Attachment Theory as it allows me to help clients make sense of their lived experiences, embrace who they are and begin to heal. When working with children and teens, I encourage parents to be involved in the therapeutic process as they play a significant role in encouraging, modelling, and mentoring.

Counselling is a unique process that does not have a one-size-fits-all approach. My job is to adjust to meet each client’s needs and appreciate their unique story. To do so, I integrate modalities to deepen my understanding of problems and facilitate change. For example, EMDR is an excellent tool to heal past traumatic experiences. Motivational interviewing can help clients clarify goals and identify barriers to change. Narrative therapy allows clients to externalize problems and begin rewriting their story. Solution focused therapy can guide clients to uncover internal and external strengths. The process of expressive arts can expand a client’s expression of their stories in creative ways including art, music, dance, or movement.

“People have said, ‘Don’t cry’ to other people for years and years, and all it has ever meant is, ‘I’m too uncomfortable when you show your feelings. Don’t cry.’ I’d rather have them say, ‘Go ahead and cry. I’m here to be with you.’”

— Fred Rogers