Helpful Tools
I have a wide range of tools from over 12 years of practice, and I apply them in my work at just the right moment. Some specific strategies I use are described below.
​
Sexual Health & Intimacy
​
Sex therapy can be very helpful for sexual issues of all kinds, varying from when things are "just not working," to enhancing pleasure and connection, to treating sexual trauma, pain, and shame. I offer counselling to both individuals and couples, I help people have better communication around sex, and I provide them with tips and tools. I am sex-positive and polyamory and kink-affirming.
​
Somatic Therapy
​
Somatic Therapy uses the body and body awareness to help process emotions and trauma. In my practice, is it not employed as the sole focus of the session, but is instead used right at the perfect time or is seamlessly woven into the work that is being completed, be it through EMDR, DBT, or talking and exploration of someone's situation. In this manner, it can facilitate or contribute to recovery.
​
Somatic therapy is a bit different than talk therapy, and it can feel strange to check in with your body. However, being in touch with your body sensations can be key to healing.
​
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
​
CPT is a cognitive strategy for treating trauma. It is short-term in nature, taking about 8 to 15 sessions to complete, and it follows specific steps as part of a pre-determined approach. It is well-researched and evidence-based, and is considered one of the few best practice therapies for treating trauma. CPT may be appropriate to be used if EMDR is not be a good fit for a client who has experienced trauma.
​
Brief Solution-Focussed Therapy
​
This method is used for short-term interventions where the main goal is to work on a relatively uncomplicated but real struggle that needs some attention. Therapy does not necessarily have to be a drawn-out practice; at times all that is needed to help someone is some focussed attention on a specific problem. Larger issues unrelated to the topic at hand are put to the side at this time. Methods include listening, exploring, and problem-solving.
Flash Technique
​
The Flash Technique is a newer trauma therapy which is supported by ongoing research and which is gaining recognition as a rapid and effective therapy alternative to trauma treatment such as EMDR (or one which can be used with EMDR in a complementary manner). Disturbing memories can be desensitized in a very short period of time, leaving the client feeling much less or no longer bothered by past events. This approach is less emotionally demanding and less distressing than other forms of trauma therapy because the client doesn't focus on the trauma at all in order to carry it out, making it less scary for people afraid of re-living their trauma and even safer to undergo. The speed at which is works is also a benefit when it comes to reducing long-term suffering and costs of treatment. Currently only trauma therapists are eligible to undergo training for this method.
​
Ego State Therapy
​
I also regularly apply Ego State Therapy in my work, which is psychodynamic in nature. I often use it in conjunction with EMDR Therapy but can be effective on its own as well. Ego State Therapy is similar to Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy. It may engage the young self from the time period of a trauma or struggle, or perhaps the different parts or aspects of ourselves. It is a unique approach which can be very effective in healing trauma from the past and also in making connections; it helps those who feel stuck, who are trying to understand why they act as they do, and who want to make changes to their patterns of reacting to events. It can be used in clients with or without a dissociative disorder. This method involves the use of imagery.
​