Our counsellors all use an integrated approach to counselling in an effort to meet the diverse needs of our clients. This means that we draw from a variety of different counselling approaches and theories including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills, Bowen Family Systems, Internal Family Systems, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Mindfulness Based Practices, The Gottman Method, and more. Below are brief descriptions of the different types of approaches your counsellor may use during sessions.

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy –

(CBT for short) is considered the gold standard for counselling. CBT looks at the interaction between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to understand how they all interact and how they may be keeping us stuck in our lives. CBT is used for many mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, goal setting, communication and conflict management, and emotion regulation.

​

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills –

are a set of skills designed to help focus on the present moment to control distressing thoughts, emotions, and potentially harmful behaviors. Different skills are taught depending on the client’s needs.

NOTE: We do not have a full DBT program, but many of our counsellors use DBT skills when working with clients.

​

Bowen Family Systems –

is an approach that looks at a client’s family of origins, sometimes going back multiple generations, to discover and understand how family members interact, resolve conflicts, and manage anxiety. These patterns are then examined to see how they are impacting the client’s present situation.

 

Internal Family Systems –

examines an individual’s internal self as different “parts” that interact with each other. As we get to know our parts and the purposes they serve, we better understand why tension arises within us and more effective ways to manage it.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy – is a short-term therapy that seeks to help client’s find solutions to present challenges based on their strengths, past successes, and inner resources.

​

Mindfulness Based Practices –

are different relaxation, visualization, and grounding exercises to bring attention to the present moment to relax and respond to life’s challenges more effectively.

The Gottman Method – uses assessments to determine a couple’s needs and then teach appropriate interventions to resolve communication challenges, promote intimacy and affection, and foster empathy for each other.

​

The Gottman Method –

uses assessments to determine a couple’s needs and then teach appropriate interventions to resolve communication challenges, promote intimacy and affection, and foster empathy for each other.

​

Spiritual Direction –

Spiritual direction is a compassionate checking in and an ongoing exploration of the spiritual dimension of our human lives. Solutions may arise to current challenges but they are not the focus of a spiritual direction session. Spiritual direction provides a global view of our lives and relationships, and helps us to pay attention to our spiritual longings and to what is sacred and meaningful to us. It is a relationship of co-discerning God's action in a person's life, helping a person to become more fully the person they've been created to be. A place to grow in their spiritual life, in their relationship with God & others.

​