adult corner greenwich counselling stony plain

Adult Therapy in Stony Plain

Adult Therapy

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CLIENT CENTRED THERAPY

My approach is client-centred—meaning that I will endeavour to find what fits for you in treatment. This depends in part on your goals—what you want out of therapy. How will you know when you are done with therapy? This is a good question to answer to figure out what it is you are hoping to change.

I use an integrated therapeutic approach that draws from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). I also use the following specific approaches:

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Expressive Arts

Drawing, expressive writing and story, including poetry, are ways to make sense of our experiences. They can also bring us moments of happiness. Examining other art, visual or literary, can also be instructive.  For example, reading others’ poetry can help us think about common human struggles and triumphs and help us feel less alone, or considering how a piece of visual art affects us may tell us what is important to us.

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EMDR Therapy

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EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR is an effective and dynamic mode of treatment; it is a mainstay of my treatment for adults. Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing was first developed and used with veterans and has been researched for decades for trauma, particularly PTSD.  I am a strong proponent of EMDR and am proud to be part of the EMDR community of helping professionals.

“Take the first step & try to make it beyond”

Author Richard Wagamese, from Embers, One Ojibway’s Meditations

ART Therapy

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Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

ART is a newer, exciting development in therapy that uses eye movements (similar to EMDR) and visualization and other techniques. It has been shown to be effective for PTSD and has been used for other issues as well. It appears to work much more quickly than most therapies. I encourage you to give this creative approach a try!

Trauma treatment

If trauma is not successfully and naturally resolved, it changes our sense of safety and trust in the world and can create effects that mask, hinder or harm our true selves. Trauma can be a one-time event, or more complex, for example, a repeated and/or relational trauma. Trauma is a focus and deep interest in my work and I am committed to offering therapy that helps people heal from trauma. As you work out what the experience has meant for you and how to move forward, it is my honour to be beside you. Approaches for consideration in adult therapy are Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization Therapy (EMDR), trauma-informed CBT, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and sand tray therapy.

Addiction treatment

Addictions can be thought of as a coping strategy or something bigger, perhaps a misdirected desire for connection. It can be tough to contemplate giving up something that has helped you get through, and maybe something that has felt like a friend.

I have many years of experience working in addiction clinics, both outpatient and residential. The phrase “many roads, one journey” (from addiction author Charlotte Kasl) describes the healing process well. Whether you are just thinking about change or are ready to take some steps in a different direction, we can work together towards your goals. It is for you to consider how your use of substances is affecting your life and for you to decide what, when and how you want to change. I also believe it is worthwhile to examine family, peer and societal influences contributing to addiction; alongside individual responsibility and choice, there is always a bigger picture. Action directed at these other systems is also important for change.