Psychotherapy

Therapeutic Modalities Integrated

Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach to the resolution and healing of emotional and psychological trauma created by Peter Levine Ph.D. SE offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in fight, flight or freeze and provides clinical tools to allow survival energies of these physiological states to be safely experienced and discharged. This is approached by gently guiding you to develop increasing capacity for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions. Through this process, the nervous system can slowly return to its natural rhythm helping to restore your life force energy and support you in living life with greater presence and less limitations.

Brainspotting Therapy

Brainspotting (BSP) was created by David Grand, Ph.D. Brainspotting therapy is a treatment process based on the observation that where you look affects how you feel. BSP locates points in your visual field that helps you to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain. These areas are called “brainspots.” When a brainspot is focused upon this sends the person into a state of sympathetic activation (fight-or-flight response) that causes emotional and physical reactions. Breaking this connection is the goal of the brainspotting and my role is to support you in mindfully processing the experience. Brainspotting is particularly effective with helping to identify and heal underlying trauma that contributes to anxiety, depression and other experiences.

Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment

Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) can be more simply called “parts work” and was created by Janina Fisher, Ph.D. TIST uses elements of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which addresses the effects of trauma on the nervous system and body, and Internal Family Systems, which assumes that symptoms and stress responses are parts of us, not all of us. TIST is approached by supporting you to mindfully observe each fragmented part of yourself. In doing this, you will learn to reframe your perspectives and understand your thoughts, sensations, emotions and impulses as communications from parts.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

Cognitive behavioural therapies work by helping you to build skills to change your behaviour so that you may flexibly respond to stress. This is approached by building mindfulness skills, learning behavioural techniques, engaging in goal setting and response prevention. Behavioural therapies can help you to stay in contact with the present moment regardless of unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, while choosing actions that support living into your values. My practice draws primarily from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy created by Stephen Hayes Ph.D, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy developed by Mark Williams, Ph.D., Zindel Segal, Ph.D., and John Teasdale, Ph.D., and Dialectical Behavioural Skills training created by Marsha Linehan Ph.D.