Areas of Practice

Practice Information

My style of counselling is both grounded and practically based, stemming from a large base of knowledge acquired through 28 years of practice in the human services sector, academic training and ongoing professional development. I acknowledge and focus on both the context of your life and the interplay of your  individual characteristics within that context. A strong, connected, respectful relationship is viewed as a key factor in counselling success.

The Counselling Experience

Client safety, confidentiality, and professional ethics are of primary importance to me in the counselling relationship. I strive to ensure that my clients’ experiences of counselling are positive, beneficial, useful and safe. While counselling can sometimes bring forth emotions that are painful and difficult to work through, I also respectfully incorporate lightness and humor into my work, engaging in the use of laughter’s healing powers which can be sometimes overlooked in the field of counselling.

Approaches Used

I use a client-centered humanistic approach in counselling, drawing from the theories of the schools of cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, narrative and existential therapies. When required, I also incorporate coaching and teaching of skill based techniques such as relaxation, creative visualization, and hypnosis to enhance clients’ personal knowledge of healthy living.

Dragon Slaying

Dragons can be really nasty creatures, stealthily sneaking up on you, or ambushing you when you least expect it. They can be tough to defeat or tame, but it is possbile…more so when you’ve got assistance from someone who knows a lot about them. I’ve had a lot of experience with the following breeds of dragons:

  • Anxiety & Panic
  • Depression
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Substance Addictions and Co-Dependence
  • Workplace issues
  • Stress
  • Grief
  • Domestic Violence & Women’s Issues
  • Crisis Intervention

Relationships

Sometimes we need assistance improving our relationships. At other times, we need assistance and support in leaving a relationship, or moving forward from one that has ended. These are the areas where I can help:

  • Relationship & Couples Therapy
  • Pre and Post Separation & Divorce
  • Moving Forward
  • Relationship Readinness

Personal Growth

We all have times in our life where we could use a little extra support, guidance or accountability as we grow to become the best possible person we can be. Counselling can provide all of this as well as the tools, information and  new perspectives you need  to assist you in jumping to a new and better  level in your life. I can assist you in the following areas of personal growth:

  • Self-esteem
  • Perfectionism
  • Procrastination
  • Life Transitions
  • Personal Empowerment
  • Goal Attainment
  • Assertiveness