Over the last 17 years I've been on a journey to figure out what it means to be emotionally healthy. Despite all my education, which includes three Masters Degrees and a postgrad certificate in comedy writing and performing (I'm not sure why I did that one), I'm the first to say that life has been my greatest teacher... that and my wife. She has been very good at helping me see life from a more diverse perspective and to grow in my understanding of healthy conflict resolution, communication, and forgiving (aka be a better person). My goal is to live in a way that will inspire others to want to be healthier rather than to follow what my dad used to joke saying, "Do as I say; not as I do," which is not what you want in a therapist. My style is a mix of CBT, DBT, EFT, solution focused, and logic therapy with my main goal being to help others figure out what it means to be more emotionally healthy a lot quicker than my journey of 17 years.
As a gestalt psychotherapist, who pairs gestalt training with somatic experiencing I can help support you in healing from your trauma.
No one in the Niagara Region utilizes the combination of these therapies and applies them to working with couples in crisis. Gottman (couples) and Post Induction Therapy training (relational/developmental trauma)
I am sorry to say but popular approaches to healing trauma like CBT will provide only temporary relief at best.
If you want to get to the root of your trauma and heal somatic experiencing (SE) is what you need and when supported with the power of relational gestalt therapy you will shift your shit!
SE focuses on regulating your nervous system.
With SE work trauma responses are completed and energy is released back into the system and with this the resolution and disappearance of physical complaints, including headaches, digestive problems, and pain syndromes can be resolved, and emotional regulation can be restored.
I will teach you how to work with your stress response - the body's innate alarm system in response to a perceived danger, also called the "Fight or Flight" response.
It is highly adaptive to danger and human survival when threats are physical, but less so when threats are psychological, or imaginary, among other somatic and relational skills.
I have been trained under Dr Abi Blakeslee part of Dr Peter A Levine's legacy group out of California for Somatic Experiencing and the late great Dr Bud Feder the author of Beyond the Hot Seat was on my dissertation committee overseeing a phenomenological study of the effectiveness of a gestalt therapy group I created to reduce stress in working informal caregivers of the elderly. I named the group process Stressed WOW (We Overloaded with Work).
Gestalt therapy is an extremely complex psychotherapy, too complex to describe in this short space.
The power of its effectiveness can only be experienced.
Most present day therapies have stolen bits and pieces of its praxis.
Get the whole again with a holistic, here and now, experiential therapy.
I am here for you... I've got your six!
Whatever the reasons that brings you here, I believe that the ups and downs of life provide opportunities (and sometimes hidden blessings) to learn about ourselves and life in general. You will learn how to restore within yourself a sense of balance and well-being, and to cultivate a renewed awareness and sense of presence in your life. After a thorough assessment, we'll begin to work on the issues that are most important to you. You'll develop insight into how past experiences and thinking processes may be continuing to influence your well-being and to identify the issues that are most troublesome. You will also be guided through the process of clarifying your values, passions, strengths and resources so that they can be drawn upon to mobilize you in a positive direction. With over 24 years of experience, you can have peace of mind that I am a very caring, non-judgmental, compassionate and skilled therapist. I offer a complimentary 15-minute telephone consultation to see if it's a good 'fit' and a good vibe so feel free to reach out. Feel free to ask me about my Therapy Intensives as well!
Registered Psychotherapist, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (Psychology: Brain & Cognition; Family and Child Studies), Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
Now Accepting New Clients: So many of us want to make healthier choices, but it can feel so overwhelming to know where to start. We may lean on self-criticism to motivate ourselves, but this only leaves us feeling drained and discouraged. Perhaps you’re feeling lost in navigating a sea of uncomfortable emotions and turn to quick fixes to escape the pain. If you notice that you constantly oscillate between feeling out of control or overly-controlling, this doesn't need to be your destiny. Although you may feel trapped in this cycle of guilt, unworthiness, and self-sabotage, there is hope for a way out.
As your therapist, I can help you to hone in on your unique strengths in order to encourage movement through self-doubt towards self-compassion. I use a holistic approach to help you work towards taking action towards a healthy equilibrium. Our exploration will be guided by gentle curiosity to step into your most authentic self.
I'm here to support you in gaining control over these big emotions instead of having them control you. I'm currently accepting new clients that are ready to begin their transformative wellness journey. Reach out today by sending me an email. I can't wait to get started.
Are you struggling to manage your emotions and turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms? Do you find yourself trapped in the same vicious cycle repeatedly? If so, you are in the right place. Through evidence-based care, we can work together to help you transition from surviving to thriving. We'll start by exploring your past experiences in order to draw connections, then apply skills and strategies to address your current challenges. Whether you're overcoming past wounds, battling addictions, or managing anxiety and depression, I offer personalized support and practical tools to foster emotional regulation and long-long-term wellness.
*Accepting New Clients*
As a Registered Psychotherapist and Recreation Therapist, I believe in creating a safe, non-judgmental space to explore some of life's most difficult challenges. I specialize in working with both individuals and couples, including healing relationship concerns, coping with relationship issues, and navigating separation/divorce. Additionally, I have experience supporting people with a wide range of concerns from depression, anxiety, trauma and healing from abuse, navigating career changes and life transitions, chronic pain, interpersonal concerns, and building self-esteem.
The Thoughts is a unique innovation of my strong believe -
The root cause of every problem is in our thoughts and the solution to these problems is also hidden in our thoughts (by Satvinder K Khurme, MSW, RSW).
With over 20 years of experience, I am committed in assisting individuals, couples and families to resolve problems that affect their day-to-day lives within the context of their families, communities and workplaces.
As a social worker, my goal is to provide support to individuals to overcome challenges through the use of evidence-based practice, support and clinical experience. Whether you are experiencing a life transition, recent loss, feeling down, relationship or general concerns, I am here to help. As each individual and their presenting concerns are unique, we will work together to tailor an approach that works best for your needs. While therapy may include serious matters, I believe therapy should also be engaging and enjoyable. My role is to support you to promote meaningful change to feel your best and live the life you envision.In addition to counselling, I hold a teaching position at Mohawk College and work frontline in Healthcare. I specialize in transitions, care and placement for older adults, chronic illness and acceptance with new diagnosis. I’m confident that my experience and skills will help support you in navigating life’s challenges.
Accepting NEW Clients – Do you feel like you’re never good enough, like you have to be perfect, or that you have to prove yourself to others? Are you tired of looking back on the things you said or did in order to try to be accepted and liked? Do you wish you could focus on putting yourself first, and making your needs/wellbeing a priority? Do you struggle with confidence or self-esteem, or stress, anxiety, and low-mood? Together we can look at exploring the strengths, relationships, and experiences that have got you to this point, and move forward in a way that reconnects you with yourself and your goals.
7 Years Experience
