VALUES & IDEAS THAT GUIDE MY WORK

I consider myself a Somatic or Body Centered Therapist. It may be that events of the past are colouring your present experience. If so, there may be some unresolved trauma in your life. In other words, it may be that there is more to learn from a past event.

Through somatic psychotherapy, you will learn to create a dialogue between your body's sensations and your ability to interpret their meanings. You can learn to acknowledge, make space for, tolerate, contain, differentiate, learn from, and then, ultimately, relax the sensations on a regular basis, as they arise, regardless of the situation you are in. It is a journey that invites emotional expression, movement, compassionate insight and inner peace. We use the direct experience of your body in relationship with the mind as a healing tool that can help with the resolution of traumatic events.

I use experiential therapy techniques to help you break free of unhealthy thought patterns, beliefs and feelings. Psychodrama, grief expression and anger release work are just some of the techniques we will use. Your counselling may include group process, role play, music, and/or art.

Sexual Health versus Sexual Compulsivity

When the need to bond with others has been wounded through trauma, neglect or abandonment people can experience great emotinal pain. They then can have difficulty relating to their sexuality in ways that honour their values, respect their bodies and encourage growth in relationships. Compulsive sexual behaviours take many forms and are seen as any sexual behaviour which interfers with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones and one's work environment. There is usually a confusing willingness to sacrifice what is cherised most in order to preserve and continue the behaviour even when it is known to be unhealthy.
I am trained to work with individuals and couples who are suffering from addictive or compulsive sexual behaviours by the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals and Patrick Carnes, PhD. Check out the following links for more information.
www.acara-counselling.com
www.sexhelp.com
www.sexsmart.com

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed in the late 1980s as a treatment for post traumatic stress. Since this time there was been much research done as to the effectiveness of this treatment on various forms of trauma, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, performance enhancement and the development of inner strengths and resources.

When a disturbing event occurs, the memory can become “locked” into your nervous system as an isolated network incorporating imagery, emotions, body sensation and negative beliefs. This network can become triggered when any kind of associated or related experience comes along. This can cause an overreaction of the present situation which may result in you feeling almost as upset or powerless as you did in the original event. The expected result is that the memory is laid to rest in the past and you are no longer hampered by the effects of the original disturbing event or later incidences which may have been added to the memory of it. For more information go to www.emdr.com

Somatic Experiencing ® was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and is now used by many practitioners working in the field of trauma. After 35 years of scientific study, Dr. Levine has come up with a model to help human beings move through and renegotiate overwhelming life events without feeling overwhelmed in the process. His unique understanding that trauma is in the nervous system and not in the event. The trauma symptoms are generalized and biologically predictable. Therefore, logical strategies can be devised to change their state, lessen suffering and enhance healing in many individuals. The body can and will relax towards a state of resiliency. This is what we will be working with…to release the energy of shock so that the body can organize itself or return to a healthy state of mental and physical well being. For more information go to www.traumahealing.com

Imago Relationship Therapy is a form of relationship therapy innovated by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. Its basic premises are as follows;

• We were born whole and complete.
• We became wounded during the early nurturing and socializing stages of development by our primary caretakers (usually inadvertently).
• We have a composite image of all the positive and negative traits of our primary caretakers deep in our unconscious mind. This is called the IMAGO. It is like a blue print of the one we need to be our partner in a committed intimate relationship.
• We look for someone who is an IMAGO match, that is, someone who matches up with the composite image of our primary caretakers. This is important because we marry or commit for the purpose of healing and finishing the unfinished business of our childhood. Our parents are the ones who wounded us and it is they who could help us heal. A primary love partner who matches their traits is their stand-in.
• We move into a power struggle as soon as we make a commitment to this person. The power struggle is necessary, for imbedded in a couples frustrations lie the information for healing and growth.
• The first two stages of marriage, “romantic love” and the “power struggle”, are engaged in at an unconscious level. Our unconscious mind chose our partner for the purpose of healing childhood wounds.
• Eventually our love partner is incompatible with us and least able to meet our needs and most able to wound us all over again.

The goal of Image relationship therapy is to align our conscious mind (which wants happiness and good feelings) with the agenda of the unconscious mind (which wants healing and growth). Thus, the goal of therapy is to assist clients in developing conscious, intimate, committed relationships.

This transition cannot take place through insight alone. Specific skills and processes are necessary that need to be practiced daily to shift us from having an unconscious relationship to a conscious relationship.

Source; The Imago Match, published by Francine Beavoir PhD and Bruce Crapuchettes, PhD; Pasadena Institute for Relationships.

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