My Approach to Helping

I provide one time mental health assessments as well as short term and long term psychotherapy depending on your personal circumstances and goal(s).

I believe we are wired for healing and growth. Experiencing suffering is part of life and everyone experiences distress at some point. We naturally find many creative ways to cope with life's problems but we do best not in isolation but with support. We may be prone to developing behaviors, perceptions, and relationships that could make us feel stuck, depressed, isolated, angry or anxious to name a few.

Through therapy, we can identify patterns that are not so useful and develop new ones that help us feel calmer, more connected, content, creative, and more courageous. In other words, therapy can helps us gain access to essential resources within ourselves and in our environment to better cope with problems and to heal and grow from our experiences.

In my practice, I draw from various evidence based modalities including but not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, internal family systems, and mindfulness-based therapy.

More Info About My Practice

We can schedule an initial session (50 min) so that I can do an assessment to better understand you. I will facilitate a fruitful discussion, you will have an opportunity to experience my style of working, and receive feedback to help you have an idea of what you could expect from working with me. This may be the only time we meet or you may choose to book additional sessions depending on our fit and your feelings about the session.

If you have insurance, sessions will be on a pay and claim basis. Should you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for visiting my page!

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

I work with various presenting difficulties including: adjustment difficulties, anger management, abuse history, anxiety, bereavement, bipolar disorder, depression, emotional turmoil, grief, loneliness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, relationship problems, stress, and trauma.

Depending on the nature of your particular experiences, we will work through your concerns by prioritizing the most important issues first. We will also identify patterns and themes in your life that may help shed light on why you feel a certain way. We will also explore your relationships and understand what your perceptions and unique relational patterns are. I will teach you various skills and ways of handling your thoughts and feelings that may help relieve distress and increase your sense of well-being.

How Psychotherapy Can Help

Discussing your life in a private and confidential manner can help alleviate distress. Also speaking to a qualified mental health professional can help you talk through problems you may be facing in a constructive, non-biased and judgment-free way. Psychotherapy can also help you deal with your emotions and thoughts in a healthier and more productive fashion.

My Role as a Therapist

My role as a therapist is to help you gain deeper access into your unconscious and increasing your awareness into patterns that make up your behaviors, thoughts and emotions. My role is also to hold your story in great confidence and help you work through difficult experiences in a safe and nonjudgmental space. My role is also to help you gain new skills by offering you some guidance and suggestions that you may want to consider implementing into your life.

What I Usually Need to Know to Help

Your history including:
Your childhood and family background
Your general health and mental health history
Your current life and personal circumstances
Your hopes for therapy

My Guiding Ethical Principles

I follow the ethical standards set by the College of Psychologists of Ontario

What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process

Starting therapy is a huge step, so you might have a range of emotions about it. There are no right or wrong feelings to have about starting therapy and if you have been thinking for some time that you should speak to someone, then you have a good reason to seek therapy. A good fit and rapport between you and your therapist is the most important factor to have a good outcome.

We will discuss different topics relevant to you. All of these discussions will take place only with your consent. Everything we talk about will be confidential and the limits of confidentiality will also be discussed. There will be full transparency from the beginning about all aspects of your therapy. I highly recommend bringing up any concerns you might have about your therapy.

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed

Going to therapy is a testament to your strength, courage and willingness to look at yourself.
Providing therapy is also an honor for me and I do not take this responsibility lightly.

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

The duration and frequency of therapy will depend on various factors:
- Your personal circumstances (e.g., financial, insurance, time constraints, travel schedule, etc.)
- Your goals for therapy
- Your presenting problem(s)
- Your history and whether you've had any therapy in the past

We will have a discussion about what can be expected in the course of therapy and what sort of frequency and duration would work best in your case.