My Practice

I maintain an evidence-based practice using psychotherapeutic approaches shown to be effective in bringing about symptom relief and longer-term changes in mood, thinking and behaviour in order to increase resiliency and overall psychological health. I work primarily with adults.  I have experience with a wide range of problems ranging from serious psychiatric and psychological disorders to less severe, but still significant, personal and interpersonal difficulties that create discomfort and limit the quality of one’s life. Some of these problems include: stress and anxiety disorders, depression, grief and bereavement, eating disorders, sexual problems, relationship difficulties, work-related problems, inhibitions, and obsessions, compulsions and addictions. As well, I have expertise in psychological trauma (including adult survivors of childhood abuse), as well as expertise in personality disorders and psychosomatic disorders (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, conversion disorder).

My Approach to Therapy

Psychotherapy consists of a dialogue between you and me. We meet once or twice a week on a regular basis. I provide psychodynamic psychotherapy, an evidence-based therapy. Psychodynamic psychotherapy aims to understand and address your difficulties in the context of your unique personality and life history.  In therapy, we will develop a close collaboration to explore in depth your internal world. A safe, confidential and trusting atmosphere helps you talk freely about yourself so that together we can help you to understand yourself and your difficulties and to make meaningful changes in how you relate to yourself and the world around you.   While symptom reduction is a goal of treatment, the aim of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to change something fundamental about yourself so that you are less vulnerable to psychological difficulties and better able to live your life with happiness and freedom.

Research has shown that psychodynamic psychotherapy is very effective for a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, eating disorders, psychological trauma, substance abuse, relational difficulties and self esteem problems, and personality disorders. Further, this research shows that the gains made in psychodynamic psychotherapy lasts when therapy ends.

I also, where indicated, incorporate other evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive and behaviour therapies, mindfulness-based interventions, mentalization-based therapy, motivational interviewing, and dialectal behaviour therapy.  I work collaborative with other health professionals that you are involved with including your GP, psychiatrist or other specialist when warrented.