My Values & Philosophy of Supporting Others

A caring and collaborative relationship that honours your very own wisdom and helps you uncover your needs.

COUNSELLING IS A CALLING: for me, counselling is a call to contribute to a better world in which we support ourselves and one another.  Counselling is not a mere job for me - it is a chance to make a difference and help others do the same. Life can certainly be unfair and unpredictable.  It can be a real struggle and bring suffering and pain.  While I may have some skills in guiding others, I am not immune to life's difficulties.  We may be similar and we may be different in all the ways we can be, but we do have in common the fact that we are complex human beings with thoughts, emotions, needs, values, intricate histories and cultural identities.

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I BELIEVE IN PEOPLE:  I believe in your natural and inherent abilities, creativity and strengths that get mobilized in times of need.  I also believe in your capacity to connect to yourself and learn new helpful skills that you can put into practice.  I believe it is important to understand ourselves from a range of domains, perspectives and contexts: biological, social, socioeconomic, geographical, ecological, spiritual, cultural, psychological and emotional.  We are interesting creatures with highly complex brains and behaviours that sometimes don't make sense to us. I will help you explore your internal world and the connections between thinking, sensing, feeling and behaving. 

HONOURING YOU:  I will provide you with a safe and non-judgemental space that honours you, your needs, your choices, your behaviours, your activities, your perspective, your culture and more.  A respectful space where you can express yourself, think in new ways, and feel connected to your true self.  A place that gives space for your feelings, thoughts and questions.

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THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP:  There are many therapeutic modalities available to people (think EMDR, ACT, DBT, CBT, etc) but research confirms that, while these modalities are helpful, it is the relationship with one's counsellor or therapist that accounts for much of the change and improvement in people's lives. As a humanistic counsellor who is person-centered, I strive to provide unconditional positive regard, authenticity and empathy.  Relational ways of learning are common in therapy as it provides an opportunity to communicate, question, feel and try things out in a safe way.  While therapists may strive to be what I described, we are also humans with biases, life experiences, perspectives and blindspots.  It is not uncommon to have ruptures in one's relationship with a therapist. Conflict can deepen the therapeutic connection and provide a great opportunity to practice having fierce conversations, practice healthy communication skills and discuss how to repair the alliance.

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MY VALUES: I value love, kindness, compassion, connection, meaningfulness, curiosity, creativity, diversity, critical thinking, a sense of adventure, honesty and a touch of rebellion! We may or may not share values but I will respect where you are coming from.

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