My Approach to Therapy

If you know me, you know I believe that knowledge is freedom. It’s empowering because having the knowledge you need to gain a deeper understanding of yourself means you’re in a better position to take the steering wheel of your life, perhaps from the hands of another or from a situation, and begin steering based on what you now know. The lights turn on so to speak and you can more confidently sit in the driver's seat, no longer steering blindly. When we can begin to make decisions based on sound knowledge and the ever growing knowledge of ourselves we can begin to make desired shifts and changes in our lives. Because of this, my approach to therapy is to build a foundation of safety, psycho-education and self-awareness. 

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Safety includes a sense of safety in sessions and a sense of inner safety that develops over time. Safety Is important because it allows for a space where open reflection can take place at a pace that’s comfortable to the client. This is done by establishing and maintaining the therapeutic relationship, through practices such as mindfulness, and naturally through the course of therapy as an understanding of the self and self-compassion, and a tolerance for the process is gained. Mindfulness is awareness by paying attention to the present. It helps with grounding in the present so you’re not taken up in the whirlwind of thoughts, feelings and sensations that come up. It can also be used to build self-awareness by attending to your inner experience.

Self-awareness is the thing that helps you to more seamlessly incorporate strategies and tools learned in therapy into those difficult situations that pop up. Self-awareness is like a topographical map. You can see all the pathways that lead to both your desired and known undesired outcomes (typically the things you come to therapy for, often described symptoms or unhelpful coping) and so you’re in a better position to apply what you know in those difficult situations. It can also mean being and feeling less triggered in difficult situations.

Finally, psychoeducation, another piece that contributes to self-awareness, clarifies a natural process that’s happening for the client. Psychoeducation often helps to answer the question, “why do I react the way I do”. This understanding, again puts the client in a power position. Some experience a sense of relief, the loosening of painful emotions like shame, guilt or fear and less self-blame. It contributes to the clarity of that topographical map, so you can begin to work with what you know to continue to break down barriers in your life.

Til next time,

Tanya