I provide services to individuals ages 18 and over via individual psychotherapy and group therapy.
Examples of the types of experiences that people have that may lead them to work with me include the experience of acute or chronic stress, anxiety, worry, or emotional pain; depression; self-criticism and the desire to work on lessening its negative presence/impacts; challenging or painful life experiences; life transitions and changes; the desire to become more self-aware and more self-compassionate.
I aim to help people better understand emotions that they are experiencing and to find ways to work with them that feel helpful and meaningful.
I have particular interests in the cultivation of mindfulness and compassion, including self-compassion; in nature, the expressive arts, and wilderness therapy to support well-being; and in neurobiologically informed approaches to understanding and supporting people who have experienced chronic stress and/or trauma and who are working to live with and beyond those experiences.
Often the individuals I support are experiencing some kind of difficulty and sense that learning to meet themselves in a supportive, kind, friendly way might help them with that difficulty. Usually, one way or another, one of the ways I assist people is by helping them learn to listen to and befriend themselves, their whole selves, and by helping them learn how to navigate their lives and the pain and/or difficulties they are experiencing using self-compassion as a resource and a guide.
My approach to therapy places emphasis on the enhancement of psychological well-being through helping people find ways of living that reduce suffering, that are personally meaningful to them and enriching, and that cultivate a sense of personal integrity and wholeness. This is the foundation of my approach regardless of the specific symptoms and life circumstances a person has experienced or is experiencing.
I view the participation in psychotherapy as participation in a life-affirming process—one that has cognitive, affective, behavioural, and relational elements.
Individuals’ specific needs vary; however, my approach to psychotherapy typically encourages a combination of self-awareness, self-reflection, the introduction of new things (e.g., ideas, information, experiences), and action (that is, doing something differently, whether in relation to one’s inner world, self, or external world). The cultivation of compassion, mindfulness, and emotional understanding are often aspects of this process, as well, inevitably, as the cultivation of connection and courage.
I begin by meeting individuals wherever they are at (emotionally, physically, situationally), by learning about this, and by beginning to work towards contextualizing their experiences. I then try to work collaboratively with individuals in a respectful way as we begin to determine what might be helpful and to work toward that.
Compassion-focused therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and neurobiologically-informed approaches more generally significantly influence my work. (Within the realm of cognitive-behavioural therapies, my approach falls within “the third wave” of these approaches.)
I am not the right therapist for everyone or for every type of difficulty. It is important that individuals find the services that have an approach and knowledge base that is best suited to their situation and needs.
Typically, individual therapy sessions are one hour in length occurring from once per week to once per month for a number of sessions and period of time that works well for you and for what you are experiencing.
Fees for my services are paid for by the person seeing me for therapy at the time the service is rendered or by a third party when funding has been approved by that party for a person to see me for sessions. An example of the latter is when Medavie Blue Cross pays me for services I have been authorized to provide to individual members of the Canadian Forces and to veterans.
With respect to extended health benefits plans, I am registered as a psychologist in Ontario.
Services provided by registered members of the College of Psychologists are also recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as medical expenses for income tax purposes.
If you would like to inquire about booking an appointment, please contact me.
For current clients, I offer the service of being able to schedule appointments online at your convenience. Please contact me for more information. Clients may also schedule appointments with me in-session, by email, and by phone.
Individual psychotherapy and group therapy sessions are offered by video conference, as well as in-person*.
To participate in video sessions, you must be located within the province of Ontario during the time of each appointment.
*At the present time, in-person appointments are offered outdoors only. No indoor appointments are occurring.
The home base of my practice is located near Sydenham, Ontario.
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Photo by Tracy Riley.