Individual Counselling
I believe in modelling. That means I will not ask you to do something that I would not do myself. So in order to encourage you to experience some growing pains, I have to keep working on myself. I have been on this learning journey with my clients for the past 18 years and it is an ongoing project.
I provide 1:1 support for individuals ages 19 + on a wide range of issues such as grief and loss, parenting, cultural adjustment, work/life/family balance, repair/strengthen relationships, family of origin, complex family dynamics, family transitions (such as arrival of new family member, blended family, separation/divorce) and personal growth and empowerment.
Couples & Relationship Therapy
While some couples take a proactive stance and seek out therapy to learn and grow with each other right from the start, others seek help when things have already “gone too far”.
No matter where you are in your relationship with your loved one, as long as both of you are committed to working together, there is hope! I am here to help you gain clarity and develop insights about yourself and your relationship and come up with ways to bring you closer together in a mutually agreeable manner.
Family Sessions
Some people have been together for years but still argue about the same issues. This is when family sessions may be useful. Joint sessions generally provide a good platform for me to observe how families interact with one another, identify entrenched behavioural patterns, and offer feedback on their communication. With the guidance of a professional, some clients tell me they have truly heard or felt heard by their family member for the first time. The objective of doing family work is for families to learn and practice new ways of communication so that they can eventually do it on their own.
Parenting Support
There is no set manual on how to parent your child, as every child and family is different. I meet with you for weekly counselling sessions and help you customize your parenting approach. This work can be done individually or with your partner.
Children (5–18 years)
When families go through transitions, children are usually impacted but are the last to be informed. Sometimes, they are not informed at all. Some parents will be so overwhelmed with what is going on at home that they may overshare with their children, fight with their children, or fight openly in front of their children. Others go out of their way to protect their children by withholding information. Still living under the same roof, it is impossible for children to be completely shielded from what is going on. More often than not, they collect bits and pieces of information and try to fill in the gaps with their imagination that sometimes causes more harm. It is important to check-in with children when families are going through big changes to make sure that they are doing okay.
I provide 1:1 sessions for children to help them work through the changes that are happening to them and in their family. With younger children who lack the vocabulary to express themselves, I like to use play therapy, themed workbooks, and storybooks. With older children, I like to use talk therapy. The objective of working with children is to provide them with a safe space to process their thoughts and feelings, assure them that they and their feelings are okay, replace any misinformation (in their heads) with facts, alleviate guilt on things that they are not responsible for (such as their parents’ separation/divorce), and above all, provide them with a positive experience of getting help so that they will know to look for help when they need it in the years to come.