Services

I am a Certified EMDR Therapist.  EMDR is a world renown psychotherapy that can help with issues such as PTSD, trauma, grief, anxiety, and other issues.  It is an 8-phase protocol that helps to gather history of a person, an understanding of issues and unresolved memories that are still impacting a person today. Next may be to work towards the possibility of re-processing upsetting or traumatic memories using dual attention stimuli such as eye movement, tapping, binaural sound or therapeutic pulsers that pulsate left to right.  By reprocessing an unresolved memory, a person’s brain, nervous and body can release anything that is no longer serving them such as emotions, negative beliefs and things stored in the body.   EMDR also offers resourcing, to help strengthen qualities and inner resources to cope with challenging situations.  

EMDR Therapy is based on the AIP Model which is Adaptive Information Processing and is the theory that supports the therapy.  The theory is that we have a natural information processing system inside of us that helps process information and  events.  With trauma and certain upsetting and disturbing events happen, this natural information processing system can be interrupted, and memories can remain unresolved causing symptoms and issues into the present day.  As we begin to prepare, strengthen internal resources and  assess readiness for reprocessing memories, the possibility to reprocess these unresolved memories for some people can help lower and at times resolve symptoms and can potentially improve current life symptoms that are connected to the unresolved memories.

More information on EMDR Therapy can be found on the EMDRIA website, which is the governing body for EMDR Therapy. It is important to seek EMDR Therapy with a therapist trained by an EMDRIA approved training.  EMDR may not be a right fit for every person, but it is a very helpful therapy to many people.

As an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Consultant, I also offer both individual and group emdr consultations to trained EMDR Therapists and Consultants in Training (CIT).  If you are an EMDR Therapist or CIT seeking consultation, feel free to reach out to me to find out more information.  Also, as an EMDR Consultant, I assist Dr. Amanda Bell with her EMDR Basic Training.  If you are a therapist and seeking basic emdr training ,you can find out more information at EMDRIA or by visiting the website of Dr. Amanda Bell.

For some people, the opportunity to share the stories and events of life is very helpful.  Creating an open, safe, non-judgemental, confidential environment for this therapeutic approach as well as a space of deep listening and empathy are values held strong in my practice in order to nurture this form of therapy for people who choose or need this. 

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Tree of Life:

I am grateful to begin the journey of learning Afrocentric approaches to therapy.  In working with a variety of cultures and backgrounds, the Tree of Life Methodology taught by Phola Org. with the teacher Nzacelo Ncube Mlilo.  The Tree of Life is a Narrative Therapy approach using the analogy of the tree and parts of the tree to share aspects of life past, present and future.  It is an empowering therapy guiding towards hope and interconnecting our lives with others. 
 

Narratives in the Suitcase:

This narrative approach, also taught by Ncazelo Ncube Mlilo is another Afrocentric Narrative Therapy approach that highlights life or an aspect of life as a journey.  Using creativity to draw, craft or create a visual suitcase that carries things we bring/learn/carry on our journey with an opportunity to share the narrative of this can be healing and enlightening.  

Some people request or find strategic approaches helpful in therapy.  Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a well known therapy that uses strategies to help people change thought patterns and behaviours through goals, tasks and in-between session homework.   Solution Focused Therapy can also be helpful for people needing some problem-solving, goal oriented strategies. These forms of therapy can be offered on their own or woven in with other forms of therapy.  Some people may like a combination of therapies over time to address various needs and issues and this can be an option as well.  Having choices and options is often helpful.