Our Counselling Approach: How we work with Clients
EMDR, CBT, DBT & More
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a novel way to treat anxieties, phobias, traumas and other distressing memories. Successful use of EMDR reprocesses and diminishes the emotional impact of memories through bilateral stimulation of the body. EMDR is based on the idea that bilateral stimulation helps the brain process traumatic experiences.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) explores the relationship between our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviours. CBT allows people to challenge and then replace negative thinking patterns with positive behaviours and mindfulness exercises. CBT does this best by first identifying thinking traps and other cognitive maladaptations and then changes them through detective thinking and introducing replacement thoughts.
Polyvagal and Somatic Therapy
Polyvagal Theory explains how the autonomic nervous system influences social behavioural and emotional regulation; including how our bodies respond to safety and danger. Somatic therapy, informed by Polyvagal, focuses on body sensations and movement to address stress and trauma. Both Polyvagal and Somatic Therapy use breathwork, movement and body awareness to regulate the nervous system and promote healing + emotional well-being.
Complex Trauma Therapy
Trauma informed practice recognizes there is a primary link between poor mental health and trauma. Therapists who work from a trauma informed lens emphasize the importance of doing the work cautiously so that clients are not re-traumatized during their healing process. This may include engaging the conscious and unconscious portions of the body/mind connection.
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectal Behavioural Therapy, DBT, integrates various types of cognitive behavioural techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. DBT focuses on building skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness. DBT promotes acceptance and change simultaniously.
Mindfulness Informed
Mindfulness is a skill that practices noticing thoughts without judgement and being aware of the present moment. Mindfulness lowers stress levels in the body, helps regulate the nervous system and brings into balance the mind/body connection. Some examples of mindfulness techniques include: Breathing, Meditation, Yoga, Visualization, Somatic techniques (noticing your senses) and Tension Release exercises.
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) focuses on skill development, validation and empowerment for parents and caregivers who have loved ones with mental health barriers. EFFT identifies parents and caregivers as the primary healers in their supportive relationships.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy empowers clients to use their own skills to solve their own life problems. Solution Focused therapy is generally best used in a short term and goal oriented approach. Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timely (SMART) goals are part of Solution Focused Therapy and can be used effectively to set, review and achieve goals within a designated amount of time.
Strength Based
Strength-based work believes all individuals come with their own unique strengths and assets. By building supportive networks, relationships and complimentary skills, a strength based solution will focus on what is going well over any deficits. A strength based perspective will focus on building self-esteem, self-confidence and advocating for your own needs.
Crisis Based
Crisis work is about helping people find ground when life feels unbearable or out of control. This is when counselling is short-term and focused specifically to help navigate moments of crisis—whether its trauma activation, navigating large unexpected life events or emotional disruption without any clear trigger. This work relies on reducing immediate distress, building internal safety, and identifying resources and next steps.