My Clinical Social Work and Clinical Counselling Practice can be described in terms of My Approach, Theories and Models.

My Approach is Relational, Strength-Based, Somatic and Trauma-Informed. These approaches weave together to describe my overall way of working with clients.

The relational-based approach is founded on the core value of recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of the client and the importance of the client-therapist relationship.  Developing a sense of safety and trust with clients is foundational. I believe we are all doing our best to navigate our lives, that we are not meant to struggle on our own, and that a therapeutic relationship can assist us to reconnect with our inherent wisdom.

The somatic psychotherapy approach is relational work.  Relationship with the therapist, the body and the mind. Our body holds the history of our experiences.  Most often there is complexity to the stories of our lives. The body’s nervous system can guide us and call attention to resolve our unresolved experiences. The somatic psychotherapy approach focuses on assisting to digest and metabolize our experiences; creating more organization and coherence to the stories of our lives.

The trauma-informed approach is based on having a theoretical understanding of brain development, and how trauma impacts brain development. Therapy can assist to reorganize traumatic experiences and disrupted attachment to bring of a new sense of self and wholeness.

Theory guides me to understand, describe, explain and predict what and why something is happening and what can be done to bring change the client is seeking. The theories that inform my practice are:

• Attachment Theory,
• Somatic and Poly Vagal Theory,
• Interpersonal Neurobiology,
• Psycho-Social Development Theory,

Models refer to the interventions and treatment options.  For the past 7 years, my focus of treatment has been Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy, as taught by Dr. Lisa Mortimore.

My practice continues to evolve; I am a lifelong learner who actively takes on-line courses from the Object Relations Institute in New York.  I am passionate about the work I do. I look forward to assisting others to achieving the changes they are seeking.