Individual Counselling
Children
I work with children as young as five years old. Parents will typically bring their children in for counselling to help with issues such as phobias, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, anger management, bullying, grief from the loss of family due to death and divorce, trauma (including physical or sexual abuse), witnessing traumatic events and substance effect due to parental substance abuse. I use Art and Play Therapy in tandem with other recognized forms of therapy when working with children. Children use play to naturally solve problems and make sense of their world. Art and Play therapy in a guided and safe environment allows children to work through difficult issues on their own terms while building internal coping strategies.
Youth
My Youth Program is for children ages thirteen to nineteen years old and involves the use of Expressive Therapies in combination with other proven therapies. Often adolescents in this age range are not interested in a lot of talk yet are experiencing a range of emotions brought on by hormonal changes in their bodies. As a result, they bottle up their feelings and use negative coping strategies such as alcohol and drug use, violence and aggression, eating disorders, cutting, isolation or depression to deal with their problems. Expressive Therapy uses drawing, sketching, writing, journaling, acting, music, sculpting and other expressive means which give opportunity for youth to express themselves. Youth are then able to separate themselves from the problem and solve the problem using healthier coping strategies.
Adults
Adults often seek counselling for a range of issues including depression, anxiety, transitioning through life stages, anger management, addiction, assertiveness, self-esteem, post-traumatic stress, abuse, employment related problems, stress managment, grief, divorce and separation, post-partum depression and dealing with conflict within relationships. When working with adults, I believe that listening goes a long way. I maintain a safe environment in which a trusting relationship can be nurtured. During the course of therapy, I use techniques such as re-framing perspectives, challenging behaviour and teaching new ways to express feelings and manage body sensations. I use these and other techniques to keep the process moving forward at a pace that is both productive and sensitive to a client's needs.