Services

I welcome and am currently accepting referrals for individual psychotherapy for adults age 18 and over.

Sessions are available by phone or by video using a secure on-line platform.  Although I am based in Toronto, I can offer psychotherapy by phone or video to clients living throughout Ontario.

CBT-I

Cognitive behaviour treatment for insomnia or CBT-I is brief, structured treatment that targets specific sleep problems contributing to difficulty falling or staying asleep in 5-8 sessions.  The approach aims to strengthen your natural sleep system to improve the quality of your sleep.

 

CBT-I is an especially good option for individuals who wish to avoid relying on medication.  Unlike medication, CBT-I addresses the underlying causes of insomnia rather than just relieving symptoms. In addition, CBT-I provides you with the tools to address sleep problems if they arise in the future. 

DBT

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioural treatment developed by Marsha Linehan for people experiencing overwhelming emotions. Originally created for those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, DBT has since been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of other mental health issues including eating disorders, substance abuse, depression and difficulties with anger management.

Grounded in the roots of CBT, DBT provides a skills-based approach that balances acceptance and change.  It focuses on teaching specific skills to equip individuals to increase more adaptive behaviours, achieve desired goals and achieve a life worth living.  Skills fall into 5 areas:

  • mindfulness
  • distress tolerance
  • dialectics
  • emotion regulation
  • interpersonal effectiveness

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the formal or informal practice of being fully present and engaged in the present moment without judgement.  The benefits of mindfulness, especially meditation, have been well studied, from reducing stress and chronic pain to reducing the severity of relapse for those struggling with substance use.

My approach to mindfulness is based on acceptance, curiosity and self-compassion.  Difficult emotions and thoughts may arise.  With curiosity and self-compassion, gentle acceptance may reduce reactivity, allowing for an increased capacity to navigate challenging life situations.

I am fully trained and experienced in delivering Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviours – MBRP.  This program integrates mindfulness meditation practices with CBT strategies to support individual’s goals in recovery.  The MBRP skills help people learn to recognize and stay with discomfort as opposed to reacting impulsively to triggers.  Combining mindfulness and relapse prevention cultivates heightened awareness of both internal and external triggers, while building a more fulfilling life.

Mindfulness-based techniques are often interwoven with other approaches to support individuals as they enhance awareness of thoughts and emotions, allow for new perspectives to emerge and give space for new ways of responding.

I have a personal meditation practice and am a member of an EFMT meditation group.