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 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 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-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 implementing that.
Compassion-focused therapy, emotion-focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy significantly influence my approach. (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. A one hour session allots about 50 minutes to talking about and working on what you are experiencing and about 5 to 10 minutes to administrative things like scheduling and payment .
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. If I have openings, I will invite you to tell me a bit more about what you are experiencing so that I can make an initial assessment of whether or not I might be a suitable resource for you. We can also discuss whether or not my current availability is likely to be a good fit for what you are looking for at this time.
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.
At the present time, individual psychotherapy and group therapy sessions are occurring primarily via video conference. To participate in sessions, you must be located within the province of Ontario during the time of each appointment.
I am also offering appointments in-person outdoors in a tranquil setting near Sydenham, Ontario. (Various criteria related to COVID-19 prevention must be met. When any of the criteria for in-person appointments are not met, appointments are occurring by video conference instead.)
If you are considering working with me, I’d want you to have in mind that appointments may need to return to being exclusively offered by video if/when directed to do so by various authorities and/or we see an increase in the prevalence of COVID-19 in this region. Video appointments also may be necessary at certain times due to road conditions and/or weather.
The home base of my practice is located near Sydenham, Ontario.