Psychotherapy

Therapeutic Modalities Integrated

Somatic Experiencing

Somatics focuses on learning to attune to the body's various intelligences—such as sensation, imagination, movement, emotion, impulse, vibration, and the beliefs or stories intertwined with them. Our somatic experiences may be shaped by social conditioning, early developmental experiences, ancestral memory, or events deeply buried within our subconscious.

Central to somatic practices is the intention to facilitate reconnection between the mind and body—a connection often fractured by the ongoing impacts of colonization and experiences of trauma. Somatics draws its roots from indigenous traditions and diverse cultural heritages worldwide.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach to resolving emotional and psychological trauma, developed by Peter Levine, Ph.D. SE provides a framework for assessing where an individual may feel “stuck” in the fight, flight, or freeze responses, offering somatic practices that allow the survival energies of these physiological states to be safely experienced. This process involves gently guiding individuals to develop their capacity to engage with difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions. By slowing down and expanding awareness in these moments, we create space for discernment and choice.

To deepen the work, sessions may also incorporate the teachings of practitioners like Staci Haines, Resmaa Menakem, and Kai Cheng Thom. Their insights enrich the practice by addressing the systemic factors that influence trauma responses, emphasizing the importance of understanding how power dynamics and oppression shape the experiences of individuals and communities.

The bodies of trauma survivors and the oppressed are rightfully interpreting danger; people pleasing, submission, rage, and dissociation are survival strategies that have kept us alive. Somatically oriented psychotherapy prepares the body for struggle, stretching into our growth edges to cultivate resilience and claim sovereignty. Ultimately, safety is not merely the absence of threat but lies in our perceived capacity to navigate and thrive within it.

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.