Why Psychotherapy?
The reasons why people seek psychotherapy are numerous and vary to a great extent. Some feel life is unfulfilling or overwhelming. Some want to add depth and meaning to their lives, while others are seeking to improve their relationships or careers. Some are navigating through life transitions, grief, addictions or a sense of loss. Many are experiencing emotional pain, feelings of low self worth, struggling with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression, etc.
Whenever you are feeling that you need some positive changes in your life, some extra support, or feeling unfulfilled or unsatisfied in relationships then perhaps it is time to explore whether psychotherapy can be of assistance for you.
My approach to psychotherapy is grounded in the understanding that much of what we do is striving to find some sort of state of balance, connection and health in our lives. With that understanding I strive to provide a safe, empathetic space to share, to be heard, and to be understood in order to help you find new meaning, resilience and help re-organize the ways in which you might experience the world.
What is Psychotherapy and what can you expect?
The relationship between the psychotherapist and the client(s) is central to psychotherapy. In psychotherapy sessions, the therapist will encourage and support your exploration into past and current problems and issues. To do this, a psychotherapist may offer techniques and tools to help explore your emotions, your ways of dealing with emotions, past and current traumas, your ways of thinking and how early life experiences and relationships impact your day to day life. During these explorations there may insights into how you may have developed unhealthy defense mechanisms to help cope with difficult feelings and situations. Once negative patterns and unhealthy defense mechanisms have been identified, psychotherapy can then help you to process, change and replace negative patterns with more healthy and positive ones.
The typical outcomes or goals associated with psychotherapy are: resolutions of internal conflicts, increased resilience and ability to cope with stressors, difficult feelings or various symptoms, an increased self-awareness, improved relationships and the experience of added meaning in one’s life. At the core of psychotherapy are techniques that assist individuals in achieving a sense of authenticity and uniqueness.
What to expect from Couples Therapy?
Working together in Couples Therapy can help bring awareness and insight into negative repetitive patterns of behaviour in the relationship, to the ways in which partners defend themselves from being hurt in the relationship and how early life experiences plus life stressors can contribute to relationship distress. Once identified, negative patterns can start to be replaced by more positive interactions. In Couples Therapy there is also the opportunity to openly address issues in the relationship for example, infidelity, sexual compatibility, poor communication, anger issues, etc. Couples Therapy also offers tools to help couples communicate more effectively in order to deepen connection with each other.
How long and how often do I go?
The length of time in therapy is determined by you as you consider what your goals and desired outcomes are. Some people stay in therapy for a short time to work through a particularly difficult issue or period in their lives or relationships. For others, psychotherapy becomes a longer term means by which to enhance their lives and relationships through personal development and greater self awareness.
Most clients attend weekly or biweekly. However, frequency is again determined by you and your particular life circumstances.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Your Privacy and Confidentiality are fundamental to psychotherapy and helps to ensure a safe environment is created.
Your personal information is treated in accordance with all applicable professional and legal obligations and all reasonable steps to keep your information safe and secure are taken.
For the purposes of providing psychotherapy, we may collect, use or disclose your personal information only with your consent or if the collection, use or disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.
It is important to note that by law, there are a limited number of circumstances where there are limits to confidentiality which are covered during the initial consultation. Some of these include: risk of child abuse, intentions to seriously harm others or oneself, court orders or subpoenas to release information to a third party such as a lawyer etc.
In terms of electronic communications, please note email and some means of digital communications are not a secure means of transmission. As such, it is recommended that you do not use electronic communications to discuss information you think is highly sensitive i.e. personal health information.
If you prefer to further safeguard any communications related to psychotherapy services, accommodations to use secure and encrypted means for communications can be made upon your request.
Your privacy and confidentiality is paramount, and as such please feel free to raise any specific privacy concerns or requests at any point in time.