Our Approach

Ours is a collaborative approach which is client driven and goal oriented. We acknowledge and validate the feelings and stories of the people with whom we work. We offer interventions to enhance their strengths, abilities and personal resources. Our focus is on what's right rather than what's wrong. We invite people to tell their stories. We value stories of the past, but our focus is on the present and the future.

Together we work toward positive outcomes which will enable the person to create a meaningful difference in their lives and move forward by finding space for life and growth beyond their current challenges. We work together to co-create meaning in people's stories and assist the people with whom we work to take charge over their lives. We encourage people to look at preventative steps that can be taken to enhance their well being.

Meeting together and engaging in collaborative conversations is a sign of strength that can lead to greater self awareness and provide the opportunity for self reflection. Our aim is to take a proactive stance and minimize the health consequences of stress and anxiety. We can help people move beyond wellness and prevention to emphasize growth enhancing activities. We have seen that many people with whom we work are very resilient and we have witnessed significant transformations and positive change. Through our conversations, we believe that we have enabled the people with whom we work to move toward experiencing many growth enhancing activities, for instance, beginning new relationships, travel and involvement in other activities that provide meaning or pleasure.

We combine a variety of approaches including, Solution Focused, Emotion Focused, Cognitive Behavioural and Narrative Therapies in an effort to tailor treatment to the makeup and characteristics of the individual client. These ideas have been connected with our own styles and unique ways of relating to the people with whom we work. We are not the experts. Our clients are viewed as the experts of their own experiences. Our aim is to facilitate change and difference in order to open up possibilities and help persons move in their preferred directions. We can do a more effective job as facilitators if we keep clear that the client, not our techniques are what make the difference.

We also realize that building a mutually trusting relationship between ourselves as therapists/coaches and our clients is a key factor in successful outcomes. The bottom line is that we want to be helpful and effective. We are passionate about our work. Compassion, caring, openness, honesty and respect are very important in our conversations with our clients. That is simply why we invite people to engage in a helpful conversation.

Making the choice to put time, money and energy toward one's psychological and emotional well being is similar to diet and exercise and is another key element to self-care.