How I work
I primarily work from a narrative therapy perspective, but like to bring in other tools and ways of working when it feels right. Click through the tabs below to learn a little bit more about the different approaches I use when supporting people through challenging times.
My work with people is grounded in an approach called narrative therapy. Narrative therapy recognizes that the way we understand ourselves is shaped by the stories and experiences of our lives, as well as by the people, relationships, and wider society around us. I like working from this perspective because it is creative, collaborative, and focused on the possibility of change. Together, we can explore the stories you have developed about yourself and your life, and consider whether those stories still fit with who you are and how you want to live.
A big part of this work is separating you from the problems you are facing. Instead of seeing anxiety, depression, ADHD, or illness as defining who you are, we can look at how these experiences are affecting your life and your relationships with yourself and others. For example, we might talk about depression as an ocean of sadness or chronic illness as an uninvited house guest. From there, we can explore how the problem has affected you, your relationships, and the things that matter to you—and what might change if it had less influence over your life.
We also pay attention to the parts of your story that can be easy to overlook: your strengths, values, skills, relationships, hopes, and the times you have managed to respond to difficult circumstances in ways that matter to you. These experiences can offer clues about who you are and who you want to be.
My goal is not to replace your story with a more positive one. It is to help you look at your experiences from different perspectives, make room for the parts of yourself that may have been overlooked, and develop a fuller story—one that reflects your values, strengths, and hopes for the future.
When working with trauma, I recognize that it can affect people in many ways, particularly when those experiences involve violence, oppression, or other forms of adversity. These effects can include feelings of overwhelm and stress, changes in how you understand yourself and your relationships, and difficulties navigating everyday life.
I also draw on response-based practices, which look beyond the effects of violence and oppression to recognize the ways people have responded to and resisted these experiences. Rather than seeing you only through what has happened to you, this approach helps us notice your strengths, choices, values, and efforts to cope and protect yourself.
These perspectives can be woven into narrative therapy and other approaches I use when helpful. They guide how we work together, including the pace of therapy and how we approach difficult experiences, so that you can feel as safe as possible as we explore the effects of what has happened, as we find ways to move toward the life you want to be living.
Narrative therapy is the primary approach that guides my work, but I may also draw on ideas and practical tools from other therapeutic approaches when they are useful for your particular needs and goals.
For example, I may incorporate CBT-informed strategies when a more concrete approach to thoughts, feelings, behaviours, or goal-setting would be helpful. Mindfulness practices can also be useful for developing awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily experiences, particularly when working with stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.
These approaches are not used as separate treatments or applied in the same way with everyone. Instead, I draw from them when they complement our work together and offer something that may be helpful to you.
Have more questions? Interested in reaching out to discuss your experiences more?
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