Counselling and psychotherapy
Counselling aims to improve self-awareness, increase resourcefulness, reduce stress, resolve perceived problems and improve general functioning, leading to a more satisfying lives.
Psychotherapy has a goal of helping people resolve and change troublesome thoughts, beliefs and behaviors. Psychotherapy can help you improve mental health and wellness, while decreasing unwelcomed symptoms of mild and moderate mental health disorders. Combined with medication, psychotherapy can support recovery in people affected by major mental health disorders.
I have experience helping people with a broad range of intrapersonal and relational issues:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Stress
- Life transitions
- Couple Issues
- Family Distress
- Self-esteem Issues
- Trauma
- Grief and loss
- Support for LGBTQ
- Tics and Tourette syndrome
- Body-focused repetitive behavior (hair puling, skin picking, nail biting, lip biting).
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)
CBIT incudes following components:
- Psychoeducation
- Self-awareness training
- Relaxation training
- Establishing a tic hierarchy
- Formulating a competing response for targeted tic
It’s generally delivered over 8 sessions and is the most effective in children, adolescents and adults who are motivated to deal with their tics and who have some awareness of their tics and urges.
CBIT is highly structured habit reversal treatment provided by a trained and certified CBIT therapist. I am licensed and qualified CBIT therapist with a genuine passion for Tourette’s therapy.
For more information about CBIT and Tourette syndrome, as well as for resources and support please check Tourette Canada https://tourette.ca/
Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) include conditions like hair pulling (Trichotillomania), Skin Picking (Excoriation) Disorder, nail biting, cheek biting, compulsive nose picking, etc. BFRB are repetitive self-grooming behaviors where an individual damages their appearance or causes injury through either pulling, picking, biting or scraping of the hair, skin or nails. BFRBs fall under category of impulse control behaviors.
By many experts in the field Comprehensive Model for Behavioral Treatment (ComB) is considered to be the optimal model for treating compulsive skin picking and other BFRBs. This enhanced habit reversal treatment focuses on identifying triggers for skin picking/hair pulling, formulating individualized recovery plans and supporting people engage in the treatment.
I am a certified ComB practitioner, with experience using Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and habit reversal training for youth and adults with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can be a very helpful tool, either alone or in combination with other therapies, in treating mental health disorders. CBT can also be an effective tool to help anyone learn how to better manage stressful life situations.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is intensive, time limited (12-20 sessions), problem-oriented approach. CBT is based on the idea that how we think, how we feel and how we act all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and our behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people to look at how they interpret and evaluate what is happening around them. Cognitive therapists help clients to recognize the negative thoughts and errors in logic that cause them to feel unwell. The therapist also guides clients to question and challenge their dysfunctional thoughts, try out new interpretations, and ultimately apply alternative ways of thinking in their daily lives.
CBT can be used to treat people with a wide range of mental health problems. These include:
- Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders, including specific phobias
- Panic disorder
- Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
