Find a Therapist in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

My approach to psychotherapy involves understanding my clients by using a client-centred lens, while also taking on a systems approach to understand the bigger picture. I am informed by Attachment Theory, as well as Emotion-Focused Therapy, and use this to help clients gain a deeper understanding of where they came from and how it is showing up in their current situation. I also employ a trauma-informed lens in which I ensure safety and comfortability in processing overwhelming experiences.

Given the widespread adaptability of CBT, I am able to work with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds. CBT can be utilized to remedy various mental health concerns including, but not limited to the following: depression; anxiety; trauma; relationship concerns; personality disorders; grief; life transitions; & self-worth. Treatment goals are collaboratively selected based upon the individuals’ unique needs, background, experiences & strengths. Namely, unhelpful thoughts, behaviours & feelings can be substituted for more adaptive ones. Though you are the expert on your life, I can offer a nonjudgmental place to better understand yourself; therefore, allowing for personal growth.

I believe that the most important part of the healing process is to work with a therapist who you are comfortable with, and whom you can trust. I therefore prioritize creating a warm, safe environment for an individual to explore life's challenges. As a therapist I aim to be as open and authentic as I can, and use humour as well as stories from my own experience to create a sense of safety in the counselling environment.

My approach is to work collaboratively with clients using a holistic model of therapy which entails a blending of Eastern and Western modalities. For example, training in meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, proper exercise, a nutritious, science-based diet and maintaining proper sleep hygiene. Also, including talk therapy can then help to reveal core values and issues. Mindfulness training benefits clients in observing clearly thoughts and behaviours. Clients benefit greatly through the use of evidence based interventions by developing the skills needed to evaluate thought patterns and overcome destructive patterns.

Patterns of self-sabotaging behavioural, disorganized thinking and overwhelming emotion make life very difficult. How can we move forward when our bodies seem to betray us and we just need a break from the buzzing anxiety or the numbing of depression? What you may not know is all these symptoms are the imprint of our unfinished business, stuck in the body and just begging to be seen, cared for and accepted. Working with me means looking with curiosity, compassion and an educated-eye at how old wounds of betrayal, abandonment and rejection show up to block living your best life. You are not alone and there is hope.

My belief is that human beings often forget to put themselves as important. We ensure that our car has regular maintenance, that our teeth have regular check ups, that our physical health is on track; but we don't put the necessary care and check up to our mental health. It is so important in this fast paced, jam packed world we live in that we take the time to work on ourselves as well. This is the way that we can maintain balance within our lives. This is about personal empowerment.

In my practice of psychotherapy, clients can anticipate a compassionate, client-centered approach that values their unique experiences and perspectives. I believe in creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors openly. Through collaborative dialogue and evidence-based techniques drawn from various modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches, clients gain insight into their challenges and develop practical strategies for growth and change.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

Psychotherapy is commonly used for both short-term and long-term therapy to help clients come to a harmonious state of being. Using many different types of psychotherapy techniques, as a therapist, we can target a clients thoughts, emotions and behaviours that are causing them problems. A focus of psychotherapy is to create positive change and a better quality of life for clients. This includes improved relationships, creating self-awareness and understanding of oneself, and overall better functioning in day-to-day life.

My approach is rooted in creating a collaborative and empathetic space where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I believe in the power of a therapeutic relationship built on trust and respect, serving as a foundation for the transformative process of self-discovery and healing. Drawing from various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic, and Humanistic approaches, I tailor my methods to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual. By fostering a non-judgmental environment, I aim to empower clients to openly express themselves and work towards understanding the underlying factors influencing their behaviours.

I offer a multidisciplinary and relational approach to psychotherapy that includes early attachment work and a sensitivity to intergenerational dynamics and trauma, with a holistic orientation and evidence-based techniques. The role of the body in healing is central to my work, as I draw on many somatic practices. I also work with the arts as a healing modality. On the part of my clients, no experience in the arts is necessary. Whichever therapeutic modality we choose as best suited to your current journey, we work with the fundamental creative drive that is present in all of us to encounter the many facets of your healing pilgrimage necessary for growth and lasting change.

While my approach is tailored to each client's needs, I predominantly use CBT with a neurobiological lens as my main approach in psychotherapy. I aim to help individuals identify the interconnection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and environment. Evidence-based therapies such as CBT have shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, anger management, OCD, personality disorders, and ADHD.