More than Just Talk Therapy

Feeling seen, heard, and believed is an important part of healing, but talk therapy alone is not effective for resolving trauma. While it is important for your therapist to understand your history, telling and re-telling the details of traumatic experiences is not required for healing and may be counterproductive. This is why we use approaches that go beyond talk therapy and work with the brain, body, and nervous system to treat underlying issues at their root.

 

What to Expect

During the initial stage of therapy, your history of symptoms, significant life events, and your childhood relationships with your caregivers and family will be discussed. You may be asked to complete assessment questionnaires depending on your presenting symptoms. Together, you and your therapist will develop a collaborative treatment plan. You will learn self-regulation skills to manage stress, anxiety, and emotions. In the treatment phase, specific therapeutic interventions will be selected for your unique needs and goals. 

 

Therapeutic Approaches

We strive to create a brave therapeutic space where people from all walks of life can feel welcome, respected, and seen. Our therapists have competency training in feminist, culturally sensitive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and LGBTQ2+ affirming care. Depending on your unique needs, our therapists employ a variety of therapeutic approaches and interventions, including, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, Somatic Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness-based interventions, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), an eye movement reprocessing therapy called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and more. Learn more about the specific approaches each of our therapists use. 

 

Most of our therapists are trained in EMDR. This form of therapy uses bilateral stimulation through eye movements, tapping, tones, or hand buzzers to stimulate your brain's innate ability to process traumatic memories and connect with positive and adaptive information. EMDR techniques can be used to develop inner resources, desensitize fears of emotions or memories, work through avoidance or resistance, and treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic, chronic pain, and dissociative disorders. 

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Learn more about our approach and perspectives on the impacts of stress and trauma.