PHILOSOPHY
the lens that informs my practice
HUMAN NATURE
I practice from the understanding that humans consistently make sense of their lives by taking in information from their environment and responding in ways that align with their current beliefs, thoughts, and emotions.
I believe that every individual is unique and that his, her or their experience is valid and an essential part of who they are. I pull from Eastern beliefs in that suffering is part of human existence, yet we can work towards accepting this idea to lessen the pain that the suffering may be causing in our lives. By cultivating connection and acceptance we can alter our perceptions and live life courageously and with more contentment and ease.
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It is through this sense of autonomy over our lives that we can connect with others through relationships, and to the greater community in which we live.
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Under the umbrella of trauma-informed care, I deeply value:
Safety
Trustworthiness
Choice
Collaboration
Empowerment
HOW PROBLEMS CAN DEVELOP
From early childhood, people internalize experiences, which then shapes their perceptions and beliefs about life. Over time, certain patterns of thoughts and behaviours become useful to us because they help us achieve something that we are striving for. This way of being is adaptive and can support us in living a satisfying and enjoyable life.
Since our goals and preferences change as we grow, so do our patterns of behaviours and thoughts. This willingness and flexible way of thinking allows us to adapt to various situations we may encounter throughout our life.
However, sometimes the mind can get stuck in habitual, unhelpful patterns of thought, emotion, or behaviour. This can cause the body to feel overwhelmed and cause distress and/or tension. This can prevent someone from moving forward, as they can feel "stuck" or incapable of reaching their potential. It may lead to feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, or other low-vibrational energies. This can be a very subjective, individual experience that can cause someone to feel quite isolated and misunderstood.
MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
With the support of the therapist, clients learn various techniques that allow them to safely access and manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Through the exploration of their inner world within a supportive environment, the therapist guides the client to understanding which aspects of their thoughts or behaviour that may not be adaptive or supportive in their current functioning. This realizing of old patterns expands the client's awareness and helps them recognize the need for change. Through the client's willingness and commitment to change, the therapist will help the client select preferred methods of action and teach ways to incorporate these methods into their daily life.
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The client is instrumental in their growth and should be prepared to continually practice their learning outside of the counselling sessions. This way, they learn to take agency over their lives and do not feel as though they have to rely heavily on anyone else for their healing.
Depending on the client, the process of change will vary. Often times we will focus on shifting unhelpful beliefs to more realistic, helpful ones; other times we will focus on mindfulness and the process of disengaging from the thought process.